Never beena KFC!!

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Fri 12 Dec, 2008 10:13 am

BLAKEY wrote: As far as I can remember, the quality and flavour of the chicken was excellent and consistent in the original days when it was Colonel Sanders "Finger lickin' good." More recently I began to find that the chicken was often wet, undercooked and varied vastly in size of pieces. I haven't had any for ages and don't feel inclined to any more. They do bang a load of spices and sauces on a lot of it now and the "batter" is often soggy. I reckon it's down to the chicken bing pumped full of fluid to increase it's wholesale weight.I'm not saying I'd be over the moon if one opened tomorrow, I just find it strange. Maybe there will be one opening in the new Headrow / Schofields foodhall as it is supposed to be quite a showpiece to get the customers in. Actually it would be a bit lame if they just had brands like KFC I suppose.

Lilysmum · Post by **Lilysmum** » Fri 12 Dec, 2008 11:02 am

cnosni wrote: Lilysmum wrote: There's one in Guiseley and it's Fowl !! The last time I had something from there it was horrid,slimy greasy muckment yuk! "and it's Fowl" (KFC)I think i can see what youre trying to do there,but im not too sure you have! The pun was intended cnosni my spelling isn't that bad! Lol

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Fri 12 Dec, 2008 5:01 pm

There is a very simple explanation as to why there is no KFC in Central leeds. They have a policy of going for out of centre sites as it reduces business rates.This is why in most towns you won't find one in a city centre unless it is a recently built shopping centre as they seem to have started putting the odd one in shopping centres in the last few years.

kierentc · Post by **kierentc** » Fri 12 Dec, 2008 5:22 pm

Reginal Perrin wrote: Yes I meant the City Centre. Leeds must be unique. i'm pretty sure there isn't one in wakefield town centre either. only on that ings road retail parki quite like a kfc <blush>

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Fri 12 Dec, 2008 6:27 pm

Steve Jones wrote: There is a very simple explanation as to why there is no KFC in Central leeds. They have a policy of going for out of centre sites as it reduces business rates.This is why in most towns you won't find one in a city centre unless it is a recently built shopping centre as they seem to have started putting the odd one in shopping centres in the last few years. Well every town i can think of that ive worked in has one?So why then is Leeds the exception??So i think this blows the "business rates" theory right out of the water.Come on lets face it why would a Global Giant like KFC worry about higer business rates? lets face it there a Massive company raking in billions!

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sat 13 Dec, 2008 9:38 am

cnosni wrote: Trojan wrote: Lilysmum wrote: There's one in Guiseley and it's Fowl !! The last time I had something from there it was horrid,slimy greasy muckment yuk! I've only ever had two, one in Wakey and one in Llanduddno, they were both exactly as you describe.Proper Southern Fried Chicken is not deep fried. It's chicken fillets coated in flour seasoned with chilli and then shallow fried. Cooked properly it's very nice. Dont tell me were getting all snobby over junk food!Surely you all know its meant to be eaten after a heavy nights consumption of alcohol. I'm not snobby about any food. I just don't think that what I put in my mouth should taste actively unpleasant. I've had a Big Mac and and Whopper - they didn't taste unpleasant - they didn't taste of anything. But for me the KFC batter had the consistency of cardboard and tasted of some obscure chemcial and the chicken was greasy and soggy.

simong · Post by **simong** » Sat 13 Dec, 2008 11:08 am

Steve Jones wrote: There is a very simple explanation as to why there is no KFC in Central leeds. They have a policy of going for out of centre sites as it reduces business rates.This is why in most towns you won't find one in a city centre unless it is a recently built shopping centre as they seem to have started putting the odd one in shopping centres in the last few years. It's not implausible, but KFCs are franchises, and usually grouped franchises at that, and it would be up to the franchise holder to decide where to pay business rates. I just had a look at the franchise information on KFC's website and they expect you to have £2m to invest in the business. The cost of acquiring a city centre location and kitting it out probably outweighs the returns at the moment simply because of the competition and lack of good locations, which is another requirement of new KFCs. As someone said, if there's going to be a food court in the Headrow Centre a franchise holder might take a place there, but that would only be available during shopping hours which couldn't maximise the business. I would also guess that there aren't incentives to be had in Leeds City Centre at the moment, which makes the place less attractive to franchisees.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Mon 15 Dec, 2008 10:40 am

simong wrote: Steve Jones wrote: There is a very simple explanation as to why there is no KFC in Central leeds. They have a policy of going for out of centre sites as it reduces business rates.This is why in most towns you won't find one in a city centre unless it is a recently built shopping centre as they seem to have started putting the odd one in shopping centres in the last few years. It's not implausible, but KFCs are franchises, and usually grouped franchises at that, and it would be up to the franchise holder to decide where to pay business rates. I just had a look at the franchise information on KFC's website and they expect you to have £2m to invest in the business. The cost of acquiring a city centre location and kitting it out probably outweighs the returns at the moment simply because of the competition and lack of good locations, which is another requirement of new KFCs. As someone said, if there's going to be a food court in the Headrow Centre a franchise holder might take a place there, but that would only be available during shopping hours which couldn't maximise the business. I would also guess that there aren't incentives to be had in Leeds City Centre at the moment, which makes the place less attractive to franchisees. Subway is a franchise business. I rest my case. There are around 10 Subway's in Leeds City Centre and there are plenty of retail opportunities which are regularly taken up by businesses not disimilar to KFC. What confidence do they have in their brand that it would not succeed in the second largest city in tthe UK?

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Mon 15 Dec, 2008 12:57 pm

KFC is my fave fast food. However, I eat it only occasionally and always enjoy it. Yes there are tastier versions of the same thing, especially in the US. I don't take too much time to analyse the contents too closely and would probably never look at it again if I did.Subjectivity, same as music, art etc.. One persons poison is anothers nectar etc etc etc.Shame there has never been one in the CC, but I live quite close to another, so I don't care!!

Si · Post by Si » Mon 15 Dec, 2008 1:20 pm

Am I right in thinking KFC used to call their fries chips?Whilst in the USA a few years ago, I visited a KFC and instead of fries, there was "mashed potatoes, gravy and biscuits." The biscuits turned out to be savoury scones, and the mash was runnier than the strangely rubber-like gravy! Reminded me of Tony Hancock's mother's gravy - "At least it moved about a bit!"