News

KFC launches website devoted to Colonel Sanders’ legacy

July 25, 2011

KFC has launched a new website – www.ColonelSanders.com – designed to collect photos, videos and stories about the chain's iconic founder in an effort to reinvest in his image.

Thirty years after Colonel Harland Sanders's death, the brand is aiming to share his legacy with a new generation.

"Colonel Sanders, his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices and all he achieved are the cornerstones of our company," said Barry Westrum, chief marketing officer for KFC. "We're honored to launch this project to preserve the memory of our founder by collecting stories from folks far and wide."

Based on the submissions the website collects, KFC may compile and release the stories at a later date.

Shirley Topmiller, who served as the Colonel's assistant and a KFC employee for 28 years, is helping to lead the campaign to preserve his legacy.

"We know there are countless stories out there about the Colonel," said Topmiller, who, as Sanders' assistant, handled everything from scheduling his television appearances to ordering his famed white suits. "If you knew the Colonel, met him during all of his travels, saw him on television or just heard a story or two from a friend of a friend, we'd love to hear from you. We want to preserve all of these great memories before they're gone forever."

At the age of 65, Harland Sanders turned a $105 Social Security check into a global chicken empire and until his death at the age of 90, traveled 250,000 miles a year visiting KFC restaurants worldwide. For years, he carried the secret Original Recipe in his head and the spice mixture in his car as he drove coast to coast visiting franchisees.

For more information about online campaigns, click here.