Kentucky Fried Chicken has long dominated fried chicken around the world with legacy and scale, but its relevance and popularity in America has been declining for years. As the Colonel has weakened, longtime rivals in Popeyes, Chick Fil-A, Bojangle's, Jollibee, Bonchon, and and others have all laid claims to the chicken throne.

The popular narrative amongst Americans is that KFC’s drop in quality over the years is the result of cost cutting from out-of-touch executives who wouldn’t know good fried chicken if it hit them in the face. When you look at KFC in America, it’s an outdated, run-down, uncreative chain with a boring menu and terrible food. But around the world in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East, KFC is a star brand known for quality chicken, great service, and unique offerings.

So how is it that the same company can be so great internationally and so poor in its own home country? In this episode, we’ll cover the fried chicken wars, the strategy and missteps that have brought KFC in America to where it is today, and how legacy and brand power can be just as much a curse as it is a blessing in the world of business.

💬 Join the Modern MBA community for bonus content and discussion - https://www.reddit.com/r/modernmba/

☕️ Support Modern MBA on Patreon and unlock exclusive essays every month, regular Q&A, episode credits, and more: https://patreon.com/modernmba

🎧 Audio Editing & Mixing: Sonalf

0:00 The Colonel Under Siege
3:47 Evolution of Fried Chicken
7:51 Bewildering Dichotomy
13:56 Legacy with a Side of Nostalgia
17:58 A Failed Turnaround
23:47 Behind the White Suit