Welcome to our dedicated page for Yum! Brands news (Ticker: YUM), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on Yum! Brands stock.
Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) is the world's largest restaurant company, boasting a portfolio that includes renowned brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill. With over 39,000 restaurants in more than 130 countries and territories, Yum! Brands serves millions of customers globally and employs over 1 million associates.
Founded as a division of PepsiCo and formerly known as Tricon, Yum! Brands generates significant revenue primarily through franchise royalties and marketing contributions. This business model has proved successful, with the company achieving $64 billion in systemwide sales in 2023. Yum! Brands is 98% franchised, with Yum China, its largest franchisee, spun out in 2016. Despite this separation, Yum China continues to pay 3% royalties to Yum! Brands.
Yum! Brands is an industry leader in the fast-food sector, with KFC specializing in chicken, Pizza Hut in pizza, Taco Bell in Mexican-style food, and The Habit Burger Grill in burgers. The company is second in global sales, trailing only McDonald's but surpassing Restaurant Brands International and Starbucks. As of year-end 2023, KFC operated 29,900 units, Pizza Hut 19,866 units, Taco Bell 8,564 units, and The Habit Burger Grill 381 units.
Known for its unique corporate culture, Yum! Brands emphasizes fun, recognition, and career development. The company invests heavily in its workforce to maximize their career potential, creating a diverse and inclusive environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.
Yum! Brands is also at the forefront of technological innovation in the fast-food industry. Led by Joe Park, the Chief Digital and Technology Officer, the company is leveraging artificial intelligence to transform its operations across all brands. By 2024, about 45% of Yum!'s sales were digital, highlighting a significant shift from traditional sales channels.
On the product front, Yum! Brands continuously innovates to meet consumer demands. For example, Pizza Hut recently introduced the Cheeseburger Melt, a unique fusion of pizza and burger elements, while KFC launched new Saucy Nuggets flavors for a limited time. Taco Bell, through its Live Más Scholarship program, is also investing in the future success of young people by awarding $10 million in scholarships in 2024.
Yum! Brands is not just about food; it's about community engagement and social responsibility. The company is involved in numerous initiatives, such as KFC’s Add Hope program in South Africa, which supports children's education and well-being.
Overall, Yum! Brands, Inc. stands out for its extensive global reach, innovative approach to technology and food, and commitment to a positive workplace culture and community impact.
KFC is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) to strengthen mentoring relationships. The company is donating $275,000 to provide meals for 5,000 mentors and youth this summer. KFC's contribution includes $175,000 in meals and $100,000 for workforce mentoring programs, enhancing youth career opportunities. This initiative aligns with BBBSA's mission to support positive youth outcomes, having assisted over 2 million youth in the past decade. The program aims to foster connections and empower young people through mentorship.
Yum! Brands recently announced the release of R.E.D. Marketing: The Three Ingredients of Leading Brands, authored by CMO Ken Muench and former CEO Greg Creed. This book outlines the R.E.D. Marketing principles - Relevance, Ease, and Distinctiveness - which have driven sales growth for Yum!'s brands like KFC and Taco Bell globally. The authors emphasize the importance of a cohesive marketing strategy, especially post-pandemic. All profits from the book will be donated to The Yum! Brands Foundation, supporting community initiatives.
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, reintroduces the iconic Edge® pizza, featuring a thin crust loaded with toppings, just in time for summer. The Edge, first launched in 1997, utilizes Thin 'N Crispy® dough and is now available in four recipes: The Ultimate, The Carnivore, The Vegetarian, and Pepperoni Lover's®, priced at $12.99 each for a limited time. Customers can order via contactless delivery, carryout, and more. With nearly 18,000 locations globally, Pizza Hut continues to lead in the pizza industry while ensuring a safe dining experience.
Yum! Brands has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Dragontail Systems for A$93.5 million. This acquisition aims to integrate Dragontail’s AI kitchen order management technology into Yum’s operations, enhancing delivery capabilities, particularly at Pizza Hut. Dragontail’s platform is already utilized in nearly 1,500 Pizza Hut locations across 10 countries. The acquisition, intended to close by Q3 2021, is expected to have an immaterial impact on Yum's 2021 financial results, pending regulatory approvals.
Yum! Brands, Inc. has partnered with the University of Louisville to launch the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence, the first public university franchise education program. This initiative aims to support franchisees with extensive online education about franchising across various sectors. Focused on promoting equity, the Center will help underrepresented groups, particularly women and people of color, gain access to opportunities in franchise ownership. This program is part of Yum!'s $100 million commitment to its Unlocking Opportunity Initiative.
Pizza Hut announces a nostalgic return of the BOOK IT! program with Camp BOOK IT!, a summer reading initiative for kids aged 4-12. This program runs from June to August, rewarding participants with a free Personal Pan Pizza for meeting reading goals. Additionally, Pizza Hut unveils the $10 Tastemaker pizza, allowing customers to customize their order with various toppings. The campaign highlights Pizza Hut's commitment to literacy and community engagement, with the launch of themed merchandise like vintage-inspired t-shirts.
Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) is hosting a virtual KFC Investor Day on May 25, 2021. The event will showcase the KFC division, which has over 25,000 restaurants across 145 countries. Attendees will meet the diverse leaders driving this global business. The live webcast can be viewed on the Yum! Brands website at investors.yum.com. Yum! Brands operates over 50,000 restaurants and has been recognized for its commitment to gender equality and sustainability.
Yum! Brands has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, to be distributed on June 11, 2021, to shareholders recorded by May 28, 2021. Furthermore, the Board approved a new share repurchase program allowing up to $2 billion in repurchases from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. This follows an unutilized prior authorization ending on June 30, 2021 due to suspended repurchases in 2020 amid COVID-19 uncertainties. Yum! Brands operates over 50,000 restaurants worldwide across leading food categories.
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) reported a strong Q1, highlighting a 14% growth and 11% same-store sales growth over two years. In response to increasing demand, KFC is seeking to hire 20,000 permanent positions across the U.S. The roles available include various levels, emphasizing opportunities in management and customer service. The company underscores that more than 75% of its general managers started as team members. Additionally, KFC offers employee benefits through the KFC Foundation, including education grants and training programs.
Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) reported a strong Q1 2021, with worldwide system sales rising 11% and same-store sales up 9%. GAAP EPS rose to $1.07, a 67% increase year-over-year. All divisions saw sales growth, with KFC and Taco Bell both reporting 11% increases. The company opened 435 new units, reflecting solid demand and development. CEO David Gibbs highlighted advancements in digital and marketing capabilities through strategic acquisitions. However, challenges remain due to the ongoing COVID-19 impact in various regions.
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