YUM vs KHC Comparison

Yum Brands is a US-based restaurant operator featuring a portfolio of four brands: KFC (29,900 global units at year-end 2023), Pizza Hut (19,866 units), Taco Bell (8,564 units), and The Habit Burger Grill (381 units). With $64 billion in 2023 systemwide sales, the firm is the second-largest restaurant company in the world behind McDonald's ($130 billion), ahead of Restaurant Brands International ($43 billion) and Starbucks ($29 billion). Yum is 98% franchised, with the largest franchisee, wide-moat Yum China, spun out in 2016, after which Yum China agreed to pay 3% royalties to Yum Brands in perpetuity. Yum is the newest evolution of Tricon, formerly a division of PepsiCo, and generates the bulk of its revenue from franchise royalties and marketing contributions.

In July 2015, Kraft merged with Heinz to create the third-largest food and beverage manufacturer in North America behind wide-moats PepsiCo and Nestle and the fifth-largest player in the world. Beyond its namesake brands, the combined firm's portfolio includes Oscar Mayer, Velveeta, and Philadelphia. While the retail channel drives around 85% of its total sales, the firm also maintains a growing presence in the foodservice arena. Outside North America, Kraft Heinz's global reach counts a distribution network in Europe and emerging markets that drives about 25% of its consolidated sales base, as its products are sold in more than 190 countries and territories.