1851

Amid the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including <a href="https://1851franchise.com/supply-chain-crisis-should-franchise-brands-turn-to-hoarding-2717359">supply chain issues</a>, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/what-the-vaccine-mandate-entails-for-fast-food-franchises-2717059">safety restrictions</a> and <a href="https://1851franchise.com/omicrons-spread-perpetuates-restaurant-labor-shortages-supply-chain-issues-2717672">labor shortages</a>, many experts have predicted that entrepreneurs would no longer be interested in opening restaurants. But one of the world’s largest restaurant franchisor parent companies, <a href="https://www.yum.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry-2717996" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yum! Brands</a>, begs to differ. The company opened a whopping 4,200 new restaurants last year, according to its <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220208006260/en/Yum%21-Brands-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-Results-Industry-Record-Full-Year-3057-Net-New-Units-Fourth-Quarter-System-Sales-Growth-of-9-with-Over-6-Billion-in-Digital-Sales-Full-Year-System-Sales-Growth-of-13-and-Record-Digital-Sales-of-22-Billion?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry-2717996" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">fourth-quarter results</a>, which it says is an industry record for unit development.“We opened a new restaurant every two hours,” Yum! Brands <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-w-gibbs?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry-2717996" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CEO David Gibbs</a> told investors on Wednesday.Each one of the Yum! Brands concepts added locations, primarily overseas in China. <a href="https://www.kfc.com/franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry-2717996" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">KFC</a> added 2,471 new restaurants in 105 countries (up 8% from 2020) and now operates nearly 27,000 global restaurants. That makes it the fourth-largest restaurant brand by unit count in the world.<a href="http://www.tacobellfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry-2717996" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Taco Bell</a> opened 433 new restaurants in 27 countries last year, up 5% from 2020, and now operates nearly 7,800 locations. <a href="https://franchise.pizzahut.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry-2717996" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pizza Hut</a> opened 1,250 new locations and now operates 18,381 global restaurants, which is a 4% increase from last year. Habit Burger opened 26 new restaurants last year as well.With nearly 98% of Yum’s more than 53,000 global restaurants owned by franchisees, the company has a profound impact on the franchise industry at large. Now, this record-breaking growth in 2021 suggests interest in franchising may be booming, a sentiment that has been echoed by many <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2021/06/04/tracking-the-growth-of-franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry-2717996" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">experts in the industry</a> over the past year. More and more entrepreneurs are looking to take control of their destiny following the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, and shifting social, economic and cultural norms have created an environment extremely favorable to franchise growth.&nbsp;And, in the case of Yum! Brands, it makes sense why entrepreneurs are choosing to invest in the concepts right now. While many other businesses continue to struggle in 2021, Yum reported same-store sales growth for all of its concepts, both globally and in the U.S. The company said its sales specifically accelerated toward the end of the year.Pizza Hut’s fourth-quarter same-store sales, for example, rose 1% in the U.S. and 4% internationally in the fourth quarter, which ended Dec. 31. Same-store sales rose 10% on a two-year basis domestically.Habit’s same-store sales rose 11% for the fourth quarter and on a two-year basis rose 5%.Taco Bell same-store sales rose 8% in the fourth quarter, and 9% on a two-year basis. KFC’s same-store sales rose 4% in the U.S. over the last quarter and 12% over a two-year basis.Challenges undoubtedly remain for both franchisees and franchisors in the restaurant industry, but Yum! Brands’ sales growth suggests post-pandemic recovery is potentially on the horizon. According to a newly released <a href="https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/media/press-releases/association-releases-2022-state-of-the-restaurant-industry-report/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry-2717996" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">State of the Restaurant Industry</a> report from the National Restaurant Association, industry sales are expected to increase 12.4% in 2022, reaching $898 billion. The size of the workforce in the foodservice industry is also expected to grow in 2022, with an estimated addition of approximately 400,000 jobs.Related articles:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/restaurants-reduce-operating-hours-due-to-staffing-shortages-2717775#industry-spotlight">Restaurants Reduce Operating Hours Due to Staffing Shortages</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/december-restaurant-sales-slip-with-omicron-variant-and-inflation-to-blame-2717802#industry-spotlight">December Restaurant Sales Slip With Omicron Variant and Inflation to Blame</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/restaurants-increase-menu-prices-due-to-inflation-2717700#industry-spotlight">Restaurants Increase Menu Prices Due to Inflation</a></li></ul>

Yum! Brands Broke a Franchising Record Last Year — Here’s What it Could Mean for the Industry

1851 Franchise

The owner of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit opened nearly 4,200 new restaurants worldwide last year, suggesting that interest in franchising is growing and post-pandemic recovery is on the horizon. 

yum-brands-broke-a-franchising-record-last-year-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-industry

Right at Home

Veterans, Army, Navy, Right at Home franchisees, Veterans Day

Veterans Excel as Right at Home Franchisees: Here's Why

veterans-in-franchising-right-at-home-success

The Cleaning Authority

Why This Corporate McDonald’s Rep Decided To Open His Own Franchise With The Cleaning Authority

cleaning-authority/kent-lewis-franchise-success

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

KidStrong Wraps Up Q3 With First Manhattan Location, 45 New Franchises and Record-High Attendance

kidstrong-q3-growth-2025

Woodhouse Spas

Photo of front lobby area of Woodhouse Spa

Why Woodhouse Has No True Competitor in the Spa Franchise Space

luxury-spa-franchise

Right at Home Expanding In-Home Care Services in Wausau, Wisconsin 

right-at-home-expanding-in-home-care-services-in-wausau-wisconsin

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Photo of Happinest Brands teams standing together in front of branded vehicles

Happinest Brands Continues Strong 2025 Trajectory With Major Q3 Growth and Strategic Wins

happinest-brands-q3-franchise-growth

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown

franchise-community-support-shutdown

Slim Chickens Opens R&D Center at World Headquarters To Drive Menu Innovation

slim-chickens-rd-center-fayetteville

Nearly 40% of Americans Are Eating Out Less as High Prices Redefine Dining Habits

nearly-40-of-americans-are-eating-out-less-as-high-prices-redefine-dining-habits

Authority Brands Enters Q4 with Record Momentum

Authority Brands Enters Q4 with Record Momentum, Surpassing 200 New Franchise Owners in the First 10 Months of 2025

authority-brands-enters-q4-with-record-momentum-surpassing-200-new-franchise-owners-in-the-first-10-months-of-2025

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

Photo of Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza franchisee Lily Wilford

Entrepreneur: This 18-Year-Old Saved Babysitting Money for College — Then Decided to Buy a Business Instead

18-year-old-franchise-owner-lily-wilford

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

Yum! Brands Broke a Franchising Record Last Year — Here’s What it Could Mean for the Industry

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS