"Colonel Sanders"

Harland Sanders was born on September 9, 1890, in a farm near Henryville, Indiana, USA. The family is not very wealthy, but they are still doing well. However, when he was 6 years old, his father passed away, leaving his mother and three children to live a difficult life.

In order to make a living, my mother had to take on many jobs outside. She had to go to the food factory to peel potatoes during the day, and continued to sew clothes for others at night. Naturally, she had no time to take care of the young children. Sanders was the eldest , he shouldered the heavy responsibility of taking care of his younger siblings and sharing the worries of his mother. During the day, his mother was not at home, so little Sanders had to cook by himself. One year later, he learned to cook 20 dishes and became a well-known cooking expert. When he was 12 years old, his mother remarried, but the relationship between Sanders and his stepfather was not very good. When he was in sixth grade, he no longer wanted to study. The air at home was so stuffy that Sanders decided to go to work and change his environment. . He came to work on a farm in Greenwood. Although it was hard work, he could still maintain his personal food and clothing. After that, he changed countless jobs and tried almost any job. He worked as a painter, a firefighter, sold insurance, and served as a soldier for a while. Later, he also obtained a correspondence law degree, which enabled him to work in the field. Sheriff of Little Rock, Kansas for a time. When he was 40 years old, Sanders came to Kentucky and opened a Kebin gas station. Because there were many customers coming and going to refuel, and seeing the hungry faces of these people who had traveled long distances, Sanders had an idea, why did I Why not make some convenience food to meet the needs of these people? Moreover, his craftsmanship is already good, and his wife and children often praise him. As soon as he thought of it, he cooked some daily meals in the small kitchen of the gas station to attract customers. During this period, Sanders launched his own specialty food, which was the prototype of the later world-famous KFC fried chicken. Due to its delicious and unique taste, the fried chicken soon received a warm welcome. Guests praised it and even some People come here not to refuel, but to eat the fried chicken from Kebin Gas Station. When he first started doing this, Sanders was trying to expand his gas station business, but now the reputation of fried chicken has exceeded the gas station. Due to the increasing number of customers, the gas station can no longer accommodate it. Sanders is here Across the street opened a Sanders restaurant specializing in his specialty - fried chicken. In order to ensure quality, Sanders put on an apron and started frying, and invested in expanding a large restaurant that can accommodate 142 people. In doing so, he created a rudimentary market for fried chicken. In the following years, while running the business, he studied the special ingredients for fried chicken (containing 11 kinds of herbs and spices, which make the skin of the fried chicken form a thin, almost unbaked shell, making the chicken moist and delicious. To this day) , this ingredient formula is still in use, but the number of seasonings has increased to 40. And this is KFC's most important secret weapon, just like Coca-Cola's formula. By 1935, Sanders' fried chicken was famous far and wide. In order to thank him for his special contribution to the state's food, Ruby LaFond officially awarded him the rank of Kentucky Colonel, so people call him "Dear Colonel Sanders" until now.

Although business was good, Sanders was not satisfied with this achievement. He went a step further and built a motel next to the famous restaurant. Before the Howard and Johnson Motel was built, Sandoz became the first corporate conglomerate to integrate food, accommodation and gas. However, as the number of customers increased, Sandoz felt that he lacked management experience, so he went to New York specifically to do so. Nair University studied hotel management courses, which enabled him to solve the hotel management problems he would face in the future, but there were still problems. As the reputation of Sandoz Restaurant grew, there were more and more customers. It is not an easy task to fry chicken for so many customers quickly and serve it to the table. He is always busy frying chicken for customers. Sanders was troubled by the complaints from the customers who were in a hurry. At this moment, an accidental pressure cooker demonstration gave him an idea. The pressure cooker can greatly shorten the cooking time. , and the food will not burn, which is the best thing for his fried chicken. In 1939, Sanders bought a pressure cooker, and he made various adjustments regarding cooking time, pressure and oil. After experimenting, I finally discovered a unique way to fry chicken.

The fried chicken fried under pressure was the most delicious fried chicken he had ever tasted. To this day, KFC Fried Chicken still maintains this secret of using a pressure cooker. And just as he imagined, it only took 15 minutes to fry a chicken. The short-time and delicious fried chicken immediately became a hot topic at the time, and many diners flocked to it. Even during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Sanders' business Still booming. However, the outbreak of World War II dealt him a small blow. During the war, gasoline rationing was implemented and his gas station closed. From then on, Sanders concentrated on running his own restaurant. However, changes in the outside world once again threaten his stable life. The plan for the new interstate highway across Kentucky was finalized and announced to the public. The road next to the location of Sanders' restaurant was passed by the new highway. This was a huge blow to Sanders and disrupted all his plans. His ambition and enthusiasm suddenly dropped to freezing point. He had to sell his assets to pay off his debts, and the proceeds amounted to only half of his total assets before the road opened. Even his bank savings were exhausted in order to pay off his debts. All of a sudden, Harlan Sanders, the former respected colonel, went from a respected rich man to a penniless poor man. At this time, Sanders was 56 years old, and all he could rely on was his monthly relief fund of US$105. But Sanders didn't want to end his life. Moreover, this small amount of relief money could not sustain his life at all, so he still had to rely on himself.

1009 times of failure

Sanders thought hard about what to do to get out of the predicament. The most valuable thing he owned was fried chicken, which was a huge intangible sum. assets. Suddenly, he remembered that he had sold the fried chicken recipe to a restaurant owner in Utah. This boss did a good job, so several restaurant owners also bought Sanders' fried chicken ingredients. They paid Sanders 5 cents for every chicken sold. In his predicament, Sanders thought, maybe there are still people doing this, and maybe this is a new starting point for his career. In this way, Colonel Sanders started his second business. He took a pressure cooker and a 50-pound bucket of ingredients and drove his old Ford on the road. Wearing a white suit and a black bow tie, the white-haired colonel, dressed like a Southern gentleman, stopped at the door of every restaurant from Kentucky to Ohio, selling the secret recipe for fried chicken and asking for a fried chicken performance for the boss and the clerk. If they like fried chicken, sell them a franchise, provide the ingredients, and teach them how to fry it. At first, no one believed him. The restaurant owner even thought it was a waste of time to listen to this strange old man's nonsense. Sanders' publicity work was very difficult. For two years, he was rejected 1,009 times. Finally, when he walked into a restaurant for the 1,010th time, he got an "Okay" answer. When there is one person, there will be a second person. With Sanders's persistence, his idea was finally accepted by more and more people. In 1952, the first authorized KFC restaurant was established in Salt Lake City, which was the beginning of catering franchises in the world. Then, to the surprise of more people, Sandoz's business snowballed. In just five years, he has developed 400 chain stores in the United States and Canada. In 1955, Colonel Sanders' KFC Co., Ltd. was officially established. At the same time, he accepted an invitation to appear on a talk show on a Colorado television station. Since he was busy at work all day long, he had to find the only clean suit - a white palm suit, put on the black-rimmed eyes he had worn for many years, and appeared in front of the public. The image of a veteran Southern colonel cooking fried chicken soon attracted many reporters and TV hosts. The 70-year-old Sanders was surrounded by people clamoring to cooperate with him, and restaurant representatives who wanted to buy franchises were still swarming. And arrived. To this end, he built a school and asked these restaurant owners to come to KFC to learn how to operate a franchised fried chicken restaurant. In 1964, an investment group composed of John Brown, a 29-year-old young lawyer, and Jack Massey, a 60-year-old capitalist, were deeply moved by Sandoz's business. They wanted to purchase the project for US$2 million. The career was a considerable sum at the time. Although he was extremely reluctant to part with it, considering that he was already 74 years old, Sanders agreed and left the next career to the next generation.

1009 times of failure

Sanders thought hard about what to do to get out of the predicament. The most valuable thing he owned was fried chicken, which was a huge intangible sum. assets. Suddenly, he remembered that he had sold the fried chicken recipe to a restaurant owner in Utah.

This boss did a good job, so several restaurant owners also bought Sanders' fried chicken ingredients. They paid Sanders 5 cents for every chicken sold. In his predicament, Sanders thought, maybe there are still people doing this, and maybe this is a new starting point for his career. In this way, Colonel Sanders started his second business. He took a pressure cooker and a 50-pound bucket of ingredients and drove his old Ford on the road. Wearing a white suit and a black bow tie, the white-haired colonel, dressed like a Southern gentleman, stopped at the door of every restaurant from Kentucky to Ohio, selling the secret recipe for fried chicken and asking for a fried chicken performance for the boss and the clerk. If they like fried chicken, sell them a franchise, provide the ingredients, and teach them how to fry it. At first, no one believed him. The restaurant owner even thought it was a waste of time to listen to this strange old man's nonsense. Sanders' publicity work was very difficult. For two years, he was rejected 1,009 times. Finally, when he walked into a restaurant for the 1,010th time, he got an "Okay" answer. When there is one person, there will be a second person. With Sanders's persistence, his idea was finally accepted by more and more people. In 1952, the first authorized KFC restaurant was established in Salt Lake City, which was the beginning of catering franchises in the world. Then, to the surprise of more people, Sandoz's business snowballed. In just five years, he has developed 400 chain stores in the United States and Canada. In 1955, Colonel Sanders' KFC Co., Ltd. was officially established. At the same time, he accepted an invitation to appear on a talk show on a Colorado television station. Since he was busy at work all day long, he had to find the only clean suit - a white palm suit, put on the black-rimmed eyes he had worn for many years, and appeared in front of the public. The image of a veteran Southern colonel cooking fried chicken soon attracted many reporters and TV hosts. The 70-year-old Sanders was surrounded by people clamoring to cooperate with him, and restaurant representatives who wanted to buy franchises were still swarming. And arrived. To this end, he built a school and asked these restaurant owners to come to KFC to learn how to operate a franchised fried chicken restaurant. In 1964, an investment group composed of John Brown, a 29-year-old young lawyer, and Jack Massey, a 60-year-old capitalist, were deeply moved by Sandoz's business. They wanted to purchase the project for US$2 million. The career was a considerable sum at the time. Although he was extremely reluctant to part with it, considering that he was already 74 years old, Sanders agreed and left the next career to the next generation.

The eternal image of KFC

In everyone’s eyes, retired Sanders should take a good rest, but this tireless old man is sucking his fingers at original chicken again

Started another job. Since appearing on TV, his look has become KFC's unique registered trademark. When people see him, they will naturally think of Colonel Sanders' legendary experience and his always smiling appearance. For this reason, Sanders often joked: "My smile is the best trademark." Although he sold all the exclusive rights, considering his huge reputation, these new owners paid Sanders a lifetime salary. , asked him to continue to serve as the spokesman for KFC Fried Chicken and promote it extensively. With the joining of enterprising new managers and the rapid development of the American fast food industry, Kentucky Fried Chicken has developed at an alarming rate. Over the next five years, sales grew by an average of 96% annually, reaching $200 million in March 1971. In the same year, nearly 1,000 new stores were opened, most of which were franchised. In 1971, with the colonel's approval, Brown and Massey sold this potentially promising business to Huberline. At this time, KFC's annual turnover had exceeded US$200 million. Although KFC's business has changed hands and changed since then, the franchise method has not changed. Although there are more and more ingredients for fried chicken, it will always be based on the most classic 11 ingredients. Of course, its The image will always be that of Colonel Sanders, who is dressed in a white suit, has white hair, wears black-rimmed glasses, and is always smiling. Sanders' life is a typical American legend. He worked in various jobs, but he found the starting point of his career in the catering industry at the age of 40. After experiencing setbacks, he made a comeback at the age of 66. , recreated another glory. With his "franchise", KFC today is the largest fried chicken chain group in the world.

It can be said that Sanders devoted his whole life to KFC. Shortly before his death at the age of 90, Sanders traveled 250,000 miles every year to promote KFC fried chicken. His age and wealth have not affected his enthusiasm for work, and he still works tirelessly to run his business. When people asked him why he was still working so diligently, Sanders replied: "More people get rusty from idleness than from exhaustion. If I ever get rusty from idleness, I will go to hell." In 1980, because Colonel Sanders died of leukemia at the age of 90. His body was laid in state at the State House. Although he has left, the fried chicken business he founded has brought eternal charm to Kentucky. People may not know the geographical location of Kentucky in the United States, but they cannot help but know the name of KFC. With a chicken, he changed people's eating world.