The Story of KFC

The Story of KFC

By Language Lab LangLab

​failure

lack of success or achievement; a person or thing that is unsuccessful

give up

to stop trying or making an effort

service station

a roadside shop selling petrol, food, etc.

destroy

to make something no longer exist by damaging or attacking it

ambassador

a person who represents or promotes an organization, activity, movement, etc.

​ Colonel Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), has one of the world's most famous faces. You can see it in more than 140 countries, smiling from the front of every KFC store.

But behind that smile is a story of failure, hard work, and never giving up.

Multiple Choice

основатель

• founder

• finder

• folder

• fonder

Multiple Choice

неудача / провал

• failure

• feature

• function

Multiple Choice

to give up

• основать

• вложить

• сдаться

• подняться

Harland Sanders was born in the US state of Indiana in 1890. He started working at age 13, and tried many jobs — on the railroads, as a lawyer, in insurance and more. He kept looking for something that would finally work.

One of his early businesses was selling oil lamps, but it failed as electricity became popular.

Multiple Choice

железная дорога

• ironroad

• railroad

• raleroad

Multiple Choice

lawyer

• законодатель

• прокурор

• юрист

• страховщик

Multiple Choice

insurance

• ресторанный бизнес

• транспорт

• право

• страхование

​Later, he moved to Kentucky and worked for a tire company, but lost that job when the factory closed. Then, in 1927, he opened a service station, but he lost it to the Great Depression.

In 1930, he got another chance with a new service station. There, he started selling his home-cooked chicken to travelers — and they loved it.

Multiple Choice

шина

• tired

• tire

• tair

• teer

Multiple Choice

service station

• автосервис

• заправка

• остановка

He opened Sanders' Cafe next to the service station. But nine years later, a fire destroyed the cafe, and a new highway built in 1950 took away his service station's customers.

At over 60 years old, Sanders tried one last time. In 1952, he opened the first KFC franchise — not in Kentucky, but in Utah, about 2,500 kilometers west.

It was a hit. People loved the chicken, and KFC began to grow quickly.

By 1964, there were over 600 locations. Sanders sold the company for $2 million — about $19 million today — and became its brand ambassador at 73 years old.

Today, KFC has around 30,000 restaurants all over the world, and Sanders' story shows it's never too late to become successful!

​What are your thoughts on Harland Sanders' story?

Do you find it surprising that Sanders started KFC in his 60s?

How often do you have KFC?

What are American the most popular fast food chains ?

What are some of the most inspiring success stories you've heard?

Do you know anyone who became successful later in life?

Do you know anyone who's tried lots of different jobs or businesses in their life?

If you were to start your own business, what would you consider doing?