Built to last: The evolution of the KFC logo

In 1952, the first franchised Kentucky Fried Chicken opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, carrying an initial logo for the brand, featuring Colonel Sanders’ face and black typography, a practical color for storefronts and packaging.

By 1978, Kentucky Fried Chicken had become a global company, and the brand needed a logo that could work on packaging, television, print advertising and billboard signage. Lippincott and Margulies, the same agency who crafted KFC’s first logo, was responsible for the design. The new look moved the Colonel to the left, simplified his portrait and stacked the three words to make it cleaner and easier to reproduce across a variety of media.

In the early 1990s, Kentucky Fried Chicken abbreviated to “KFC,” responding to new consumer tastes and opening the brand to more menu variety.

After PepsiCo spun off KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell in 1997, which eventually became Yum! Brands, KFC unveiled its most modern logo at the time with a stylized bust of Colonel Sanders and fresh typography.

In 2006, Colonel Sanders donned a red apron over his white suit to denote that he was active in the kitchen.

In 2015, KFC revived a fan-favorite, introducing the iconic bucket and returning to black-and-white typography and a more vintage drawing of Sanders.

In 2018, KFC revved up the red and simplified its logo for more digital uses.

In 2026, KFC evolved its look again. At the center is the bucket — KFC’s most recognizable asset — refreshed with new energy alongside a subtle evolution of the Colonel himself, ensuring the brand’s heritage remains front and center. Together, the updated branding comes to life across packaging, digital platforms, advertising and restaurant environments.

Using the iconic KFC bucket along with “stripes as type,” the brand broadened its visual real estate for its messaging. The Colonel Sanders image also received a refresh, adding a collar to his well-known ribbon tie.