In a fiery battle over the ownership of “Original Recipe,” KFC has filed a lawsuit against Church’s Texas Chicken, claiming Church’s recent ad campaign is blurring the lines of branding in the fried chicken world. KFC, a Yum! Brands company, took the issue to federal court, accusing Church’s of appropriating the “Original Recipe” tagline—an iconic phrase KFC argues has been synonymous with its own secret seasoning blend since 1972.
KFC’s complaint, filed in the Eastern District of Texas, highlights a marketing push from Church’s Texas Chicken that began in September, promoting a revamped fried chicken recipe under the banner, “Our Original Recipe Is Back.” According to KFC, this phrase treads dangerously close to the brand’s signature slogan and risks confusing chicken aficionados everywhere.
A KFC representative made a bold statement, defending their branding heritage and warning competitors against piggybacking on their seasoned identity. “We take it personally when others attempt to leverage our unique taste and history as their own,” the spokesperson said.
KFC claims it first reached out with a formal letter to Church’s last month, cautioning that the slogan’s usage could erode the distinctiveness of their name. When Church’s allegedly failed to respond, KFC escalated the dispute to court, seeking both monetary compensation and a cease-and-desist order on Church’s use of “Original Recipe” in its promotions.
As the battle unfolds in court, fast-food fans and fried chicken loyalists are left to wonder: who will ultimately hold the crown for the “Original Recipe”?
