Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is one of the most popular fast food chicken chains in the world. Since its founding by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1952, KFC has become known for its signature fried chicken seasoned with the colonel’s secret original recipe of 11 herbs and spices. One of the most iconic parts of the KFC brand is the image of Colonel Sanders featured on KFC cups and buckets.
The History of Colonel Sanders on KFC Cups
Colonel Harland Sanders was the founder of KFC. He began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky during the Great Depression. Sanders’ restaurant became popular for his secret recipe and cooking method for fried chicken. In 1952, Sanders created the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise concept by partnering with Pete Harman of South Salt Lake, Utah. After selling the company in 1964, Sanders became a public figure and symbol of the company as KFC’s goodwill ambassador and brand spokesperson, portrayed as a friendly Southern gentleman colonel who loved his fried chicken.
The image of Colonel Sanders began appearing on KFC paper cups as early as 1967. The classic pose shows the white-haired and white-suited Sanders leaning forward with his hand curled under his chin. An early KFC cup circa 1969 featured a red and white striped design with Colonel Sanders’ face prominently displayed. The iconic image of the colonel’s head was shown inside an oval with his signature cursive inscription “Kentucky Fried Chicken” above.
The Revolving Colonel Campaign
In the 1970s, KFC launched an advertising campaign known as the “Revolving Colonel.” Multiple images of Colonel Sanders began appearing on KFC cups, buckets, and packaging. The rotating set of illustrated colonels showed Sanders in various poses and outfits corresponding to different food items on the menu. There was the astronaut colonel for planet chicken, the birthday colonel for the crispy chicken birthday cake, the Western colonel for chicken nuggets, and so on. This marketing concept connected Colonel Sanders directly with KFC menu innovations while keeping his iconic founder image at the forefront.
Celebrity Colonels
In the late 1990s and 2000s, KFC adopted a new campaign with celebrity impersonators taking on the role of Colonel Sanders. Comedic actors like Darrell Hammond, Norm Macdonald, and Jim Gaffigan portrayed quirky colonels in funny TV commercials and promotional materials. Their images as Colonel Sanders then appeared on KFC cups and packaging. While the real Colonel Sanders passed away in 1980, these celebrity colonels kept his spirit embodied within the brand.
Modern Colonel Sanders Logos
Today, the image of Colonel Harland Sanders remains a key part of KFC’s logo and branding. The current KFC paper cups feature a minimalist flat graphic of the colonel’s face, necktie, and white suit. Other modern updates to the logo through the years have shown him in different poses and styles while retaining Sanders’ iconic facial features – white goatee and mustache and black-rimmed glasses.
As of 2022, the official KFC website displays Colonel Sanders in a simple headshot as a vintage line drawing. Clicking on this image triggers an animated sequence of Colonel Sanders springing to life in a color portrait. He adjusts his bow tie and smiles in a welcoming gesture. KFC also continues using illustrations of Colonel Sanders to represent different chicken menu items and promotions.
The Significance of Colonel Sanders as a Brand Mascot
Colonel Sanders has become one of the most recognizable brand mascots in history as the face of KFC for over 50 years. His caricature conveys qualities that appeal to KFC’s target demographic:
- Friendly and upbeat demeanor
- Southern charm and hospitality
- Classic Americana symbolism as a cowboy colonel
- Experience and expertise at making fried chicken
- Nostalgia for KFC’s early roots
The continued use of Colonel Sanders solidifies his place in pop culture. He represents good old-fashioned family recipes and home-cooked comfort food that has now expanded globally. Colonel Sanders also provides continuity across KFC’s diverse international markets as the common ambassador at the core of their brand identity. His enduring popularity proves the power of an iconic brand mascot.
Conclusion
Colonel Harland Sanders and his bow tie and white suit image have become instantly recognizable symbols of Kentucky Fried Chicken since the 1950s. As KFC’s original founder, the colonel served as the first brand mascot appearing on logos, packaging, and advertising. His caricatured illustrated likeness, portrayed as a welcoming Southern gentleman sharing his secret fried chicken recipe, helped drive KFC’s rapid worldwide expansion over the decades. The colonel has undergone modern updates and celebrity reinterpretations, but continues representing the core values of quality comfort food and nostalgia. More than 50 years after his death, Colonel Sanders’ visual identity remains synonymous with the KFC brand’s origins and ongoing popularity as a global fast food empire. His face on their cups and buckets will likely serve up homestyle Southern charm for generations to come.