KFC is rolling out a global brand refresh that includes new menu items, updated restaurant designs and a refreshed visual identity, with one of the first new-format restaurants expected to open in McKinney later this summer.
The company announced June 15 that its next chapter will begin in the United Kingdom and Ireland before expanding to other markets, including Australia and the United States, later this year.
The revamp centers on boneless chicken, sauces, beverages and redesigned restaurants intended to give customers more options throughout the day. KFC said the effort is aimed at modernizing the customer experience while keeping the brand tied to its fried chicken roots.
“In an increasingly crowded category, we have a clear opportunity to set the standard for modern chicken in QSR,” Scott Mezvinsky, CEO of KFC Global, said in a statement. “This next chapter brings new energy and expression to what makes us iconic, while doubling down on our chicken and reimagining how fans experience KFC around the world.”
The new menu approach includes crispy tenders and other boneless items paired with a global sauce lineup of more than 20 options. Markets will be able to tailor sauces to local tastes, with examples including Chimichurri Ranch and Hot Honey Habanero.
KFC also plans to expand sauce-covered items, including tenders, wings and sandwiches, under what it calls its “Dunked” menu platform. Those items are already available in South Africa and India.
The company is also growing its beverage platform, KWENCH by KFC, which includes Boba Refreshers, Krunch Shakes, Sparkling Lemonades and Iced Coffees. The drinks are already available in select locations in the U.K. and Ireland and are expected to become permanent menu items in Australia and Canada this year.
In the U.K. and Ireland, KFC said it will roll out new tenders and nine new sauces in the coming weeks, along with updated branding across communications and digital platforms. The broader rollout is expected to expand to Australia, the U.S. and other markets through 2026.
The restaurant design changes will begin with new spaces intended to focus on hospitality as well as speed and efficiency. One of the first examples will be an open-concept restaurant in McKinney, which KFC said will reinterpret the brand’s heritage with a more modern design. The location is expected to open in late summer.
Another next-generation restaurant is planned for Dubai this fall. That location is expected to be a two-story restaurant showcasing one of the brand’s more immersive new designs.
KFC is also refreshing its branding, including updates to its bucket design and a subtle evolution of the Colonel image. The updated branding will appear on packaging, digital platforms, advertising and restaurant environments.
KFC operates more than 34,000 restaurants in more than 150 countries and is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc.
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