What Restaurants Does Yum! Brands Own?

Updated August 2026

Yum! Brands currently owns four major restaurant brands: KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill. However, Yum! entered into agreements in June 2026 to sell Pizza Hut, so its restaurant portfolio is in the middle of an important transition.

The company is sometimes mistakenly called Yum Foods, Yum Restaurants, or the Yum Food Company. Its official name is Yum! Brands, Inc.

Yum! does not directly operate every KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, or Habit Burger location. Most restaurants in its worldwide system are operated by independent franchisees that pay fees and royalties for the right to use the brand, menu, operating system, technology, and intellectual property.

As of Yum!’s second-quarter 2026 report, its system included more than 64,000 restaurants across 157 countries and territories. KFC was the largest brand by restaurant count, followed by Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger & Grill.

This guide explains every major restaurant brand Yum! currently owns, the pending Pizza Hut sale, how its franchise system works, its connection to PepsiCo and Yum China, and which famous chains are no longer part of the company.

Yum! Brands at a Glance

Restaurant totals change regularly as franchisees open, close, relocate, or transfer locations.

What Is Yum! Brands?

Yum! Brands is one of the world’s largest restaurant companies.

Instead of operating one restaurant concept, Yum! manages a portfolio of recognizable food brands serving different categories:

• Chicken through KFC
• Mexican-inspired food through Taco Bell
• Pizza through Pizza Hut
• Fast-casual burgers through Habit Burger & Grill

The company is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Its major responsibilities include:

• Owning and protecting brand names and trademarks
• Developing menu and marketing strategies
• Recruiting and supporting franchisees
• Managing franchise agreements
• Developing restaurant technology
• Coordinating advertising
• Setting operational and food-safety standards
• Supporting restaurant development
• Managing global supplier relationships
• Operating selected company-owned restaurants

Yum! describes itself as a restaurant-brand company rather than a traditional food manufacturer. It does not primarily make packaged food for grocery stores or manufacture all of the products used inside its restaurants.

Is It Yum Foods or Yum! Brands?

The correct company name is Yum! Brands, Inc.

People may informally call it Yum Foods because it owns several food chains, but Yum Foods is not the official corporate name.

The exclamation point is part of the Yum! name and logo.

How Did Yum! Brands Begin?

Yum!’s corporate history is connected to PepsiCo.

PepsiCo previously owned:

• KFC
• Pizza Hut
• Taco Bell

In 1997, PepsiCo separated its restaurant businesses into an independent public company called Tricon Global Restaurants.

The company was later renamed Yum! Brands in 2002.

The separation allowed PepsiCo to concentrate on beverages and packaged snacks while the new restaurant company focused on franchising, international development, menus, real estate, and restaurant operations.

Yum! is now independent from PepsiCo. PepsiCo does not own Yum! Brands, and Yum! does not own Pepsi.

Does Yum! Brands Own Pepsi?

No. Yum! Brands and PepsiCo are separate publicly traded companies.

The historical connection sometimes causes confusion because:

• PepsiCo previously owned KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.
• Many Yum! restaurants have served Pepsi products.
• Yum! was created through a PepsiCo corporate separation.

Restaurant beverage agreements can vary by brand, franchisee, market, and contract. A beverage-supply agreement does not mean the restaurant company owns the beverage company.

1. KFC

KFC is Yum!’s largest restaurant brand by number of locations.

Yum!’s second-quarter 2026 financial report listed 34,747 KFC restaurants. The brand operates across approximately 149 countries and territories.

What Does KFC Stand For?

KFC stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The brand is closely associated with Colonel Harland Sanders, whose Original Recipe chicken became the foundation of the restaurant system.

What Does KFC Sell?

KFC menus can include:

• Bone-in fried chicken
• Chicken tenders
• Chicken sandwiches
• Chicken nuggets
• Mashed potatoes
• Biscuits
• Coleslaw
• French fries
• Gravy
• Rice dishes
• Wraps
• Wings
• Regional meals

KFC menus differ significantly between countries.

International locations may serve:

• Congee
• Rice plates
• Spicy regional sauces
• Local sandwiches
• Egg dishes
• Seafood
• Desserts designed for regional tastes

Why Is KFC So Important to Yum!?

KFC gives Yum! access to the enormous global chicken category.

Chicken can be adapted to different:

• Spice preferences
• Meal occasions
• Religious dietary requirements
• Serving sizes
• Price levels
• Regional side dishes

The brand also has strong international recognition, allowing Yum! and its franchisees to continue opening restaurants in both developed and emerging markets.

Does Yum! Operate Every KFC?

No. Most KFC restaurants are operated by franchisees or master franchisees.

A franchisee may own:

• One KFC restaurant
• Several restaurants in one city
• Hundreds of locations across a region
• The development rights for an entire country

Yum! owns the KFC brand and the restaurant system, but the local restaurant business may be owned and operated by another company.

2. Taco Bell

Taco Bell is Yum!’s Mexican-inspired quick-service brand.

Yum!’s second-quarter 2026 report listed 9,046 Taco Bell restaurants. The brand operates across more than 35 countries and territories.

Who Founded Taco Bell?

Taco Bell was founded by Glen Bell.

The first Taco Bell opened in Downey, California, in 1962.

Before developing Taco Bell, Bell operated restaurants that sold hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos, and other quick-service foods.

What Does Taco Bell Sell?

Common Taco Bell products include:

• Tacos
• Burritos
• Quesadillas
• Nachos
• Crunchwraps
• Chalupas
• Bowls
• Breakfast products
• Frozen beverages
• Value-menu items
• Vegetarian menu options

Taco Bell describes its food as Mexican-inspired rather than traditional Mexican cuisine.

The menu is built around ingredients that can be used across several products, including:

• Tortillas
• Seasoned beef
• Chicken
• Beans
• Rice
• Cheese
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Sauces

Why Is Taco Bell Important to Yum!?

Taco Bell has become one of Yum!’s strongest businesses, especially in the United States.

The brand is known for:

• Frequent limited-time menu items
• Affordable food
• Late-night business
• Drive-thru service
• Digital ordering
• Rewards programs
• Strong youth and pop-culture marketing
• Creative product combinations

Taco Bell can turn a relatively focused group of ingredients into a large number of menu items. This can support operational efficiency while giving customers the impression of variety.

Does Yum! Own Taco Bell Cantina?

Taco Bell Cantina is a format within the Taco Bell brand, not a separate restaurant company.

Cantina locations may offer:

• Urban restaurant designs
• Open kitchens
• Alcoholic beverages where permitted
• Special menu items
• Fewer or no drive-thru lanes

Yum! owns the Taco Bell brand, including the formats and intellectual property developed under it.

3. Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut remains part of Yum! Brands as of August 6, 2026, but Yum! has entered into definitive agreements to sell it.

Yum!’s second-quarter report listed 19,985 Pizza Hut restaurants.

Who Founded Pizza Hut?

Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas.

The brothers borrowed $600 from their mother to open the original restaurant.

What Does Pizza Hut Sell?

Pizza Hut menus commonly include:

• Pan pizza
• Hand-tossed pizza
• Thin-crust pizza
• Stuffed-crust pizza
• Wings
• Pasta
• Breadsticks
• Desserts
• Lunch specials
• Regional toppings

The brand operates through several formats:

• Traditional dine-in restaurants
• Delivery and carryout units
• Express counters
• Food-court locations
• Combination restaurants
• International casual-dining restaurants

Is Pizza Hut Still Owned by Yum! Brands?

Yes, at the time of this article’s August 2026 update.

However, Yum! announced two separate Pizza Hut sale agreements on June 16, 2026.

The planned transactions are:

• Pizza Hut outside Mainland China: To be acquired by LongRange Capital
• Pizza Hut in Mainland China: To be acquired by Yum China Holdings

The combined announced value of the transactions is approximately $2.7 billion, subject to adjustments and closing conditions.

Yum! said it expected the transactions to close during the third quarter of 2026.

Its July 30, 2026 earnings report continued to describe them as agreements and warned that the sales might not close within the expected timeframe. Therefore, Pizza Hut was still being reported as a Yum! division at that time.

What Happens After the Pizza Hut Sale?

After both transactions close, Yum! Brands will no longer own Pizza Hut or report it as one of its restaurant divisions.

Its main restaurant portfolio would then consist of:

• KFC
• Taco Bell
• Habit Burger & Grill

Yum! has also said that it plans to continue providing certain technology and transition services to Pizza Hut outside China for a period following the sale.

Why Is Yum! Selling Pizza Hut?

Yum! began reviewing strategic options for Pizza Hut in November 2025.

The company ultimately decided that Pizza Hut could benefit from ownership structures focused specifically on the pizza brand’s markets, challenges, and growth opportunities.

The sale would also allow Yum! to concentrate more heavily on KFC, Taco Bell, Habit Burger & Grill, technology, and capital returns.

Is WingStreet a Separate Yum! Brand?

WingStreet is generally a wing concept connected to Pizza Hut rather than a separate top-level Yum! division.

WingStreet products may be sold:

• Inside Pizza Hut restaurants
• Through Pizza Hut delivery
• Through virtual restaurant listings
• At co-branded or express locations

It should not normally be counted as a fifth independent Yum! restaurant company.

4. Habit Burger & Grill

Habit Burger & Grill is Yum!’s fast-casual burger concept.

The chain has more than 385 restaurants and continues to expand through a combination of company-operated and franchised locations.

When Did Yum! Buy Habit Burger?

Yum! completed its acquisition of The Habit Restaurants, Inc. in March 2020.

The announced purchase price was approximately $375 million.

The deal added a burger-focused fast-casual concept to a portfolio that was previously centered on KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.

Who Founded Habit Burger?

The first restaurant opened in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969.

It was originally called Hamburger Habit.

What Does Habit Burger Sell?

Habit Burger & Grill offers:

• Charburgers
• Grilled chicken sandwiches
• Tri-tip sandwiches
• Ahi tuna sandwiches
• Salads
• French fries
• Onion rings
• Tempura green beans
• Milkshakes
• Frozen desserts

The brand emphasizes cooking food over an open flame.

What Makes Habit Different from KFC and Taco Bell?

Habit is generally classified as fast casual rather than traditional quick service.

Fast-casual restaurants commonly emphasize:

• Made-to-order preparation
• Higher average check sizes
• More customized meals
• Dining-room experience
• Fresh ingredients
• Food positioned between fast food and casual dining

Habit also operates a larger percentage of company-owned restaurants than Yum!’s other major divisions.

This gives Yum! more direct involvement in store-level sales, labor, food costs, rent, and operating margins.

Does Yum! Brands Own Every Restaurant Location?

No. Owning the restaurant brand is different from owning every restaurant.

Yum! owns intellectual property such as:

• Brand names
• Logos
• Recipes and product specifications
• Restaurant systems
• Technology platforms
• Training programs
• Marketing materials
• Franchise rights

Independent franchisees commonly own or lease the individual restaurant business.

The franchisee may be responsible for:

• Building or leasing the restaurant
• Purchasing equipment
• Hiring employees
• Paying wages
• Managing daily operations
• Ordering food and supplies
• Following brand standards
• Paying franchise fees and royalties
• Maintaining the property

Yum! works with approximately 1,500 franchisees across its worldwide system.

What Is a Master Franchisee?

A master franchisee receives the right to develop and operate a brand across a larger territory, which may include an entire country or region.

The master franchisee may:

• Open its own restaurants
• Recruit sub-franchisees
• Develop local menus
• Manage regional marketing
• Build local distribution systems
• Adapt the restaurant format

The arrangement allows Yum! to enter markets using a local partner with knowledge of:

• Real estate
• Labor laws
• Consumer preferences
• Supply chains
• Local regulations
• Regional business practices

How Does Yum! Brands Make Money?

Franchise Fees

A new franchisee may pay an initial fee for the right to open and operate a branded restaurant.

Royalty Payments

Franchisees commonly pay Yum! a percentage of restaurant sales.

Royalties can create recurring revenue without requiring Yum! to operate each restaurant directly.

Company-Owned Restaurant Sales

Yum! earns direct sales revenue from the restaurants it operates itself.

Company-owned restaurants also make Yum! directly responsible for:

• Food costs
• Employee wages
• Utilities
• Rent
• Maintenance
• Local operating expenses

Property Revenue

Yum! may own or control certain restaurant properties and receive rent or other property-related payments from franchisees.

Advertising Contributions

Franchise systems commonly collect advertising contributions that support:

• National commercials
• Digital advertising
• Product promotions
• Mobile applications
• Brand campaigns

Technology and Services

Yum! has invested in restaurant technology that can support ordering, kitchen operations, delivery, customer data, and digital sales.

Its Byte by Yum! platform brings several digital tools into one system for its brands and franchisees.

What Is Byte by Yum!?

Byte by Yum! is Yum!’s restaurant-technology platform.

It is intended to support areas such as:

• Online ordering
• Mobile applications
• Restaurant point-of-sale systems
• Kitchen management
• Delivery operations
• Customer loyalty
• Data and analytics
• Artificial intelligence tools

Byte is a corporate technology platform rather than a public restaurant chain.

It should not be counted alongside KFC or Taco Bell when listing Yum!’s food brands.

Does Yum! Brands Own Yum China?

No. Yum China Holdings is a separate publicly traded company.

Yum! Brands completed the separation of Yum China in 2016.

After the separation, Yum China became responsible for operating and developing several restaurant brands in Mainland China.

Yum China has operated brands such as:

• KFC
• Pizza Hut
• Taco Bell
• Little Sheep
• Huang Ji Huang
• Lavazza coffee shops through a joint venture

These additional Yum China concepts are not automatically owned by Yum! Brands.

How Can Yum China Operate KFC and Taco Bell?

Yum China operates the brands under licensing and master-franchise arrangements.

This means Yum! Brands owns the KFC and Taco Bell trademarks while Yum China develops and operates the restaurant systems in Mainland China.

Yum China pays licensing fees under the applicable agreements.

What Changes with Pizza Hut China?

Under the June 2026 transaction, Yum China agreed to purchase ownership of the Pizza Hut brand in Mainland China for approximately $1.2 billion.

After that transaction closes, Pizza Hut China would no longer owe Yum! Brands the same licensing fees for operating Pizza Hut in Mainland China.

Yum China would continue to serve as Yum!’s master franchisee for KFC and Taco Bell in the country.

Does Yum! Own A&W Restaurants?

No. Yum! Brands previously owned A&W Restaurants but sold it in 2011.

A&W is known for:

• Root beer
• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• Cheese curds
• Root beer floats

Although some older combination restaurants may have paired A&W with a Yum! concept, A&W is no longer part of Yum! Brands.

Does Yum! Own Long John Silver’s?

No. Yum! Brands previously owned Long John Silver’s but sold the seafood chain in 2011.

Long John Silver’s specializes in:

• Fried fish
• Shrimp
• Chicken
• Hush puppies
• Seafood platters

Yum! sold Long John Silver’s because it wanted to concentrate on its larger global restaurant concepts.

Former and Current Yum! Brands

Restaurant Chains Yum! Brands Does Not Own

Yum! Brands does not own every major fast-food company.

Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Hortons, and Firehouse Subs

These brands are owned by Restaurant Brands International.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s Corporation is an independent public company.

Domino’s

Domino’s Pizza is an independent public company and is not connected to Yum!’s Pizza Hut ownership.

Little Caesars

Little Caesars is privately owned and is not part of Yum! Brands.

Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill is an independent public company.

Subway

Subway is not owned by Yum! Brands.

Wendy’s

The Wendy’s Company is an independent public restaurant company.

Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation is independent and is not owned by Yum!.

Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins

These brands are part of Inspire Brands.

Arby’s, Sonic, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Jimmy John’s

These chains are also owned by Inspire Brands rather than Yum!.

Why Does Yum! Own Different Types of Restaurants?

Owning several food categories gives Yum! more than one opportunity to reach customers.

Different Meal Occasions

• KFC may serve family meals and chicken cravings.
• Taco Bell may attract value, snack, and late-night customers.
• Pizza Hut may serve delivery and group occasions.
• Habit Burger may serve fast-casual lunch and dinner customers.

Different Price Points

Customers can choose between inexpensive value items, family meals, delivery orders, premium burgers, and larger sharing products.

Different International Opportunities

A brand that grows slowly in one country may perform strongly somewhere else.

For example, local customers may have very different preferences for:

• Chicken
• Pizza
• Burgers
• Tacos
• Delivery
• Dine-in meals

Shared Corporate Resources

Yum!’s brands can benefit from shared investments in:

• Technology
• Franchise recruitment
• Food safety
• Restaurant development
• Data analysis
• Human resources
• Global purchasing knowledge

Why Does Yum! Use Franchising?

Franchising allows a restaurant brand to expand without paying the complete cost of opening and operating every location.

The franchisee provides much of the local capital and management, while Yum! provides the brand and system.

Advantages for Yum!

• Faster restaurant development
• Lower direct construction costs
• Recurring royalties
• Local operating knowledge
• Reduced exposure to daily restaurant expenses

Advantages for Franchisees

• A recognized brand
• Established recipes
• Marketing support
• Training
• Purchasing systems
• Restaurant design guidance
• Digital ordering platforms

Risks of Franchising

Yum! must still protect consistency across thousands of independently operated restaurants.

Problems at one franchisee can affect the reputation of the entire brand.

Common challenges include:

• Food-safety failures
• Poor customer service
• Inconsistent preparation
• Employee complaints
• Outdated buildings
• Weak local marketing
• Franchisee financial problems

Which Yum! Brand Is the Biggest?

KFC is the largest Yum! brand by worldwide restaurant count.

Yum!’s second-quarter 2026 totals were:

1. KFC: 34,747 restaurants
2. Pizza Hut: 19,985 restaurants
3. Taco Bell: 9,046 restaurants
4. Habit Burger & Grill: More than 385 restaurants

Restaurant count is only one way to compare brands.

A smaller brand may have:

• Higher average sales per restaurant
• Stronger profit margins
• Faster same-store sales growth
• More company-owned locations
• Greater growth potential

Which Yum! Brand Makes the Most Money?

The answer depends on whether the comparison uses system sales, company revenue, franchise revenue, or operating profit.

KFC generates the largest worldwide system sales because of its enormous international restaurant network.

Taco Bell is especially important to Yum!’s profitability because of its strong sales and restaurant economics in the United States.

Pizza Hut remains a very large global system, but declining performance in certain markets contributed to Yum!’s decision to pursue a sale.

Habit Burger is much smaller and has remained in an earlier growth and development stage.

What Does System Sales Mean?

System sales represent sales generated across both:

• Company-owned restaurants
• Franchised restaurants

System sales are not the same as Yum!’s corporate revenue.

For example, when a customer spends $20 at a franchised Taco Bell, the complete $20 is included in Taco Bell system sales.

However, Yum! does not record the entire $20 as its own corporate revenue. The franchisee records the restaurant sale and pays Yum! the required royalties and fees.

Why Do Some Restaurants Combine Yum! Brands?

Some locations combine two restaurant concepts inside one building.

Examples have included:

• KFC and Taco Bell
• KFC and Pizza Hut
• Taco Bell and Pizza Hut
• Older KFC and Long John Silver’s combinations
• Older A&W and Long John Silver’s combinations

Combination restaurants may share:

• Dining areas
• Drive-thru lanes
• Employees
• Storage
• Refrigeration
• Customer parking

However, they may still require separate preparation stations, ingredients, equipment, packaging, and food-safety procedures.

Will Yum! Buy More Restaurant Companies?

Yum! has not announced that it will immediately replace Pizza Hut with another large restaurant brand.

Possible future strategies could include:

• Growing KFC
• Expanding Taco Bell internationally
• Developing Habit Burger
• Acquiring another restaurant concept
• Investing in restaurant technology
• Returning money to shareholders

These are strategic possibilities rather than confirmed acquisitions.

The Habit purchase shows that Yum! is willing to add a restaurant brand when it believes the concept has strong growth potential and can benefit from Yum!’s franchising system.

What Will Yum! Brands Look Like After Selling Pizza Hut?

After the Pizza Hut transactions close, Yum! would become a more concentrated restaurant company.

KFC and Taco Bell would represent the overwhelming majority of the restaurant system, while Habit Burger would remain the company’s smaller fast-casual growth brand.

Possible Advantages

• Greater attention on KFC and Taco Bell
• Less corporate complexity
• More focused technology investments
• Capital available for investment or shareholder returns
• Fewer resources required for Pizza Hut’s turnaround

Possible Risks

• Less category diversification
• Greater dependence on chicken and Mexican-inspired food
• Loss of exposure to the global pizza category
• More reliance on KFC and Taco Bell performance

Frequently Asked Questions

What restaurants does Yum! Brands own?

As of August 2026, Yum! Brands owns KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill. Pizza Hut is under agreements to be sold.

Is it called Yum Foods?

No. The official company name is Yum! Brands, Inc.

Does Yum! Brands own KFC?

Yes. KFC is Yum!’s largest restaurant brand by worldwide location count.

Does Yum! Brands own Taco Bell?

Yes. Taco Bell is a core Yum! restaurant brand.

Does Yum! Brands own Pizza Hut?

Yes, as of August 6, 2026. However, Yum! has signed agreements to sell Pizza Hut outside China to LongRange Capital and Pizza Hut in Mainland China to Yum China.

Has the Pizza Hut sale been completed?

Yum!’s July 30, 2026 financial report continued to describe the transactions as pending. The company expected them to close during the third quarter of 2026, subject to closing conditions.

Who is buying Pizza Hut?

LongRange Capital agreed to purchase Pizza Hut outside Mainland China. Yum China agreed to purchase ownership of the brand in Mainland China.

How much is Pizza Hut being sold for?

The two transactions have a combined announced value of approximately $2.7 billion, subject to adjustments and other terms.

Does Yum! Brands own Habit Burger?

Yes. Yum! completed its acquisition of Habit Burger & Grill in 2020.

How much did Yum! pay for Habit Burger?

Yum! announced a total acquisition value of approximately $375 million.

Does Yum! Brands own WingStreet?

WingStreet is connected to Pizza Hut and is not normally reported as a separate Yum! restaurant division.

Does Yum! Brands own Long John Silver’s?

No. Yum! sold Long John Silver’s in 2011.

Does Yum! Brands own A&W?

No. Yum! sold A&W Restaurants in 2011.

Does Yum! Brands own Pepsi?

No. Yum! and PepsiCo are separate companies.

Did Pepsi own KFC?

Yes. PepsiCo previously owned KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell before separating the restaurant division in 1997.

Does Pepsi own Taco Bell?

No. Taco Bell is owned by Yum! Brands.

Does Yum! Brands own Yum China?

No. Yum China became an independent public company after being separated from Yum! Brands in 2016.

Why does Yum China operate KFC?

Yum China operates KFC in Mainland China under a master-franchise and licensing relationship with Yum! Brands.

Does Yum! own all KFC restaurants?

No. Most KFC restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees.

Does Yum! own all Taco Bell restaurants?

No. Most Taco Bell locations are franchised, although Yum! also operates selected restaurants.

How many restaurants does Yum! Brands have?

Yum!’s second-quarter 2026 report stated that its brands franchised or operated more than 64,000 restaurants in 157 countries and territories.

Which Yum! brand has the most locations?

KFC has the most locations, with 34,747 restaurants reported for the second quarter of 2026.

Which Yum! brand is the smallest?

Habit Burger & Grill is the smallest of Yum!’s four current restaurant brands.

Is Yum! Brands a fast-food company?

It is a restaurant-brand and franchising company. Its portfolio includes quick-service and fast-casual concepts.

Does Yum! manufacture restaurant food?

Yum! primarily manages restaurant brands and systems. Approved suppliers and distributors produce and transport many ingredients and products used by the restaurants.

How does Yum! make money from franchises?

It receives payments such as initial franchise fees, ongoing royalties, property income, and other fees associated with the restaurant system.

Can someone buy a Yum! Brands franchise?

Franchise opportunities depend on the brand, country, available territory, financial qualifications, operating experience, and development commitments.

What is Byte by Yum!?

Byte by Yum! is the company’s restaurant-technology platform. It is not a separate food chain.

Does Yum! own Burger King?

No. Burger King is part of Restaurant Brands International.

Does Yum! own Popeyes?

No. Popeyes is also owned by Restaurant Brands International.

Does Yum! own Domino’s?

No. Domino’s is an independent pizza company.

Does Yum! own Chipotle?

No. Chipotle Mexican Grill is an independent public company.

Does Yum! own McDonald’s?

No. McDonald’s Corporation is an independent company and a major competitor.

Final Thoughts

Yum! Brands is one of the largest restaurant companies in the world, with more than 64,000 restaurants across 157 countries and territories as of its second-quarter 2026 report.

The company is officially called Yum! Brands, not Yum Foods.

Its four current restaurant brands are KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill.

KFC is the largest by restaurant count, with 34,747 locations. Pizza Hut had 19,985 restaurants, while Taco Bell had 9,046. Habit Burger remains the smallest brand, with more than 385 restaurants.

Yum! does not directly own or operate every restaurant. Most locations are run by independent franchisees that pay for the right to use the brand, recipes, systems, technology, and marketing.

The company was created after PepsiCo separated KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell into an independent restaurant company in 1997. Yum! Brands and PepsiCo are now separate businesses.

Yum! later owned A&W and Long John Silver’s but sold both brands in 2011. It also separated its China restaurant operation into the independent Yum China Holdings company in 2016.

Habit Burger became Yum!’s fourth major brand when the company completed its approximately $375 million acquisition in 2020.

The largest current change is the planned sale of Pizza Hut. Yum! agreed in June 2026 to sell Pizza Hut outside Mainland China to LongRange Capital and Pizza Hut China to Yum China for a combined announced value of approximately $2.7 billion.

Until those transactions close, Pizza Hut remains part of Yum! Brands. After completion, Yum!’s main restaurant portfolio would contain KFC, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger & Grill.

The Yum! business model demonstrates how a restaurant company can control globally recognized brands without directly operating every store. Franchisees provide local capital and daily management, while Yum! supplies the name, system, technology, marketing, and operating standards.

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