FOOD NEWS
The Little-Known Connection Between KFC
And Wendy's
By Nico Danilovich
It turns out that KFC and Wendy's are connected by an important figure who played a role in both of their histories. KFC emerged in the first half of the 20th century, founded by Harland Sanders, but he is not the key individual linking KFC and Wendy's together.
Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, was once a part of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The second restaurant to ever hire Thomas — known as Hobby House — ended up becoming a KFC franchise, which he turned around and made successful, even inventing KFC's iconic spinning bucket sign in the process.
Those KFC locations (once Hobby Houses) became profitable, and Thomas earned himself enough money to start his own business: Wendy's. Thomas stated that the wisdom he gained at KFC taught him to rely on a mascot and his persona to build customer loyalty.