# How KFC Built a Brand Around a Stolen Recipe

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/brand-storytelling-with-fexingo-narrative-mission-and-stories-that-sell-7871735/how-kfc-built-a-brand-around-a-stolen-recipe
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/brand-storytelling-with-fexingo-narrative-mission-and-stories-that-sell-7871735/how-kfc-built-a-brand-around-a-stolen-recipe.md
Podcast: [Brand Storytelling with Fexingo: Narrative, Mission, and Stories That Sell](https://stenobird.com/podcast/brand-storytelling-with-fexingo-narrative-mission-and-stories-that-sell-7871735)
Published: 2026-06-29T07:01:53+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/brand-storytelling/episode-0080.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/brand-storytelling/episode-0080.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/brand-storytelling-with-fexingo-narrative-mission-and-stories-that-sell-7871735/episodes/how-kfc-built-a-brand-around-a-stolen-recipe
Duration seconds: 787

## Resource

This episode of Brand Storytelling explores how KFC turned a stolen fried chicken recipe into the foundation of a global brand. Lucas and Luna trace the origins of Colonel Sanders' secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, the legal battles that followed, and how KFC transformed a theft into a marketing asset. They discuss the 2024 discovery of a handwritten recipe in a Kentucky attic, the subsequent lawsuit with a former supplier, and how the company used the controversy to reinforce brand lore. The hosts examine the tension between authenticity and corporate control, and what happens when a brand's origin story is literally up for grabs. A case study in turning vulnerability into narrative strength. #BrandStorytelling #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #KFC #ColonelSanders #Marketing #BrandNarrative #SecretRecipe #LegalDrama #IP #Trademark #Authenticity #FastFood #BrandLore #CrisisMarketing #StolenRecipe #KFCRecipe #Business Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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## Transcript

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