KFC’s move to Texas sparks a fast food turf war, but that’s not the only chain that has an identity crisis. This is what we’re talking about American food culture.

Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, (the owner of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, is not just flapping, but flapping, which itself is a chicken chain.

The decision has been nervous for Kentuckians, including Governor Andy Besher. Andy Besher moved not only as a company relocation, but as a blow to Kentucky’s cultural heritage.

“I am disappointed with this decision and I believe the company’s founders are as well,” Beshear said in a statement to the Associated Press. “The company’s name starts in Kentucky and sells state heritage and culture in the sale of its products.”

Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott was excited to joke that the company should change its name to “Texas Fried Chicken.”

Political jab aside, experts say the response to the KFC’s move is showing a deeper depth. From New Yorkers and Chicagoans fighting for pizza hegemony to endless feuds where the tropical countries really make the best barbecues, food isn’t just food. It reflects national pride.

“These (states) competition goes beyond just food preferences,” Ryan Elam, CEO of a marketing agency that works with major brands such as Coca-Cola and Whole Foods, told Yahoo News I did. “They embody the historical, social and regional distinctions that residents cherish. By engaging in these discussions, individuals can express their cultural heritage, and feel belonging and community. can promote it.”

So, if one of the world’s most recognised chains suddenly uproots its headquarters, it will spark a lawn war.

As Elam says, “Food acts as a deep conduit for emotional connection, memory and identity.” And when it comes to fast food, these brands don’t just sell meals. “It plays a pivotal role in both reflecting and shaping regional and national identity.”

When a brand leaves that “home”

The KFC story began in 1930 at a roadside motel in Corbyn, Kentucky, where Haaland Sanders, now known as Colonel Sanders, began selling his signature fried chicken to travelers. The first official franchise opened in 1952 near Salt Lake City, but the brand had already become synonymous with Kentucky itself, so when Sanders died in 1980, the state was semi-staffed in his honor It is reportedly flew the flag.

In 1991, the company was rebranded as KFC. This has led to a distance from the word “frying” as health-conscious appetite gained traction. Today, the chain has over 30,000 restaurants in 150 countries, and its Kentucky roots continue to be at the heart of its identity.

KFC is not the first brand to complicate the relationship between a restaurant and its supposed home base.

For example, Texas Roadhouse boasts a Texas theme, but ironically it was headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and founded in Indiana. Texas favourite, Daily Queen, was actually born in Illinois, but despite being founded in Kansas, White Castle developed a unique history in Ohio.

Michael Della Penna, Chief Strategy Officer at Inmarket, explained to Yahoo News that fast food brands are deeply woven into people’s memories and emotions. The chain’s headquarters may move, but what really locks it into the community is the connections consumers build over time.

“Food can be reminiscent of taking a car home from school with my parents, stopping by a local fast food chain or reminiscing about my favorite local dishes my grandma had made on the menu. “Everyone has a variety of emotions,” he explained.

Anyway, whose grass is that?

It’s not just Kentucky, disappointed by the KFC departure.

“Kentucky is there by that name and we’re proud of it,” Lexington native Zach Lester told Yahoo News. “It sends the message that the bottom line is far more important than the Kentuckians who got them where they are today.”

Lexington resident Freddie Hostler II, reflecting that sentiment, calls KFC “the most identifiable person worldwide from a national perspective and an important marker for Kentucky.”

For some, KFC’s link to Kentucky is a part of its global identity, not just branding, and its name still carries weight. Murray Garvin, a native of Eastern Kentucky, told Yahoo News:

With KFC embracing the new Texas home, Elam is questioning whether an identity change is imminent.

“The move aims to streamline operations within the Yum brand and promote collaboration within the Yum brand, but it raises questions about its connection to the brand’s origins,” he said. Loyalty. “

For Linda Dawahale, a lifelong Kentucky member of Linda Dawahale, who recalls fond memories of visiting Corbin’s original restaurant as a child, it feels like she has lost a part of her family.

“I’m not happy with it. It’s not going to be the same,” she told Yahoo News. “KFC is a staple in Kentucky and should remain in Kentucky.”