Yum! Brands

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) operates as a global restaurant company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky with a website at https://www.yum.com. The company does not directly own or operate restaurants but instead franchises and licenses its restaurant concepts worldwide, with approximately 97% of its units operated by independent franchisees or licensees as of December 31, 2025.

Yum! Brands operates four primary restaurant concepts: KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill. KFC, founded in 1952, is a global leader in the chicken category offering fried and non-fried chicken products. Taco Bell, established in 1962, specializes in Mexican-style food including tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Pizza Hut, founded in 1958, operates in the delivery, carryout, and casual dining pizza segments. Habit Burger & Grill, a fast-casual concept founded in 1969, focuses on made-to-order chargrilled burgers and sandwiches. The company operates over 63,000 restaurants across 155 countries and territories, generating approximately $68.3 billion in system sales in 2025.

The company's operating segments align with its four restaurant concepts. KFC represents the largest division with 33,897 units generating $36.4 billion in system sales, followed by Pizza Hut with 19,974 units and $12.8 billion in sales, Taco Bell with 9,030 units and $18.4 billion in sales, and Habit Burger & Grill with 384 units and $706 million in sales. Approximately 72% of Yum's units operate internationally, with KFC having the highest international presence at 90% of its units.

Yum! Brands employed approximately 49,000 people as of December 31, 2025, with roughly 90% working in restaurants and the remainder in support centers. The franchise system collectively employs over one million people globally. The company's business model generates revenue primarily through royalty fees, typically between 4% and 6% of franchisee sales, along with initial franchise fees and other service fees. In 2025, digital sales approached $40 billion, representing approximately 60% of overall system sales. The company launched Byte by Yum!, a proprietary software and AI-driven platform designed to streamline restaurant operations and enhance franchisee economics through consolidated technology systems.