Yum! brand

[wushijiao]

This is an article about the Yum! corporation. Right now, I live within 15 minutes walking distance of three KFC's, which is probably not too atypical in modern China.

But if they know KFC (previously Kentucky Fried Chicken), or Pizza Hut, or Taco Bell, then they know Yum! Brands. The parent of those three fast-food chains, it has 34,000 (mostly franchised) restaurants around the world, 2,000 more than McDonald's. At home in America it accounts for about 4% of all restaurant-industry sales, behind only McDonald's at 6.5%. With 1,378 KFC restaurants in China, and 201 Pizza Huts at mid-2005, Yum! owns two of the best-known brand names in the world's most populous market. Not bad going, you might say, for a company that Pepsi-Cola got rid of in 1997 because, in the words of one PepsiCo executive, “restaurants weren't our schtick”.

also

In China, Yum! has combined the luck and skill needed to be in the right place at the right time. It got in early, did well, bet bigger and has prospered ever since—a tribute to its country management, led by Sam Su, president for China since 1997. Yum! reckons that 500m urban Chinese can so far afford its food, leaving another 800m still to come into the market. Mr Novak likens the Chinese market to the American one in the 1950s, when the fast-food industry was inventing itself. And in China, Yum! has more of a first-mover advantage than Colonel Sanders or even McDonald's ever did. It has two strong brands, twice the restaurants of its nearest rival, McDonald's, and young people queuing up to work for it: more than 80% of its restaurant managers in China are college graduates. Thanks partly to China, this year Yum! is making about two-fifths of its operating profits outside America, up from one-fifth in 1998. It could take only a few more good years in China, and a few flat years in America, to tilt the balance decisively.

http://www.economist.com/business/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4316138

[Outofin]

Most Americans were surprised when I told them that KFC is more popular and successful than McDonald's in China's market. It seems to be two totally different businesses in China and in the states.

Many Chinese companies tried to the business mode and all failed. I personally think their sanitation is questionable. But I loved 永和大王. Wonder if they're still there.

[gougou]

In Germany, the gap between Mc Donald's and KFC is even wider. You can find a Mc Donald's everywhere, but KFC's only in the biggest cities.

As of half a year ago, 永和大王 still existed。 Haven't found one in my area yet this time, but I also prefer it over Western fast food.

[msittig]

Are you kidding? 永和大王 are all over Shanghai. Where else could I get my two-in-the-morning youtiao and doujiang fixes?

[kudra]

Discussion at work....

Anybody know if 永和大王 has changed their logo. Based on google images, it looks like the Col. Sanders - like face may have been replaced with a steaming soup bowl. Anybody know?

Thanks.

[jbradfor]

I'm not too surprised that KFC is doing better in China than McD is. "Kentucky" style fried chicken doesn't seem that much of a stretch from other forms of chicken served in china, such as the whole roast chicken, while hamburgers are a bit more of a stretch from standard Chinese food. I am a bit surprised Pizza Hut is doing as well as it is, though, since pizza with all the cheese et.al. doesn't seem to fit Chinese tastes.

Back in '89 in Taiwan I saw a KFC knockoff chain called "SFC" (stood for "四褔 Chicken", I believe, although we called it Shitty Fried Chicken). Does that still exist?

[mcgau]

i remember a weird copycat of KFC in yunnan, 中国鸡.

The slogan is "我们不是肯德鸡, 我们不是麦当劳, 我们只做中国鸡" .

It..............the most weirdo thing i see.