ESG News For YUM! Brands, Inc.

Yum! Brands’ lead sustainability executive, Jon Hixson, grew up on a Kansas farm and cultivated a career in agriculture before pivoting to 10 years on Capitol Hill then leaping to a private-sector role in public affairs at Cargill in 2005.

I started driving big tractors and walking rice fields the summer I turned 10. My dad was a fourth generation rice farmer, and I ended up majoring in industrial engineering because I thought I could do something with technology and operations in farming.

The KFC Foundation is awarding $200,000 in grants to 20 community-based non-profit organization projects focused on expanding access to food and shelter.

One of the coolest things about working at Yum! Brands is the ability to complete an STA. An STA, also known as Short Term Assignment, is the ability to work across corporate, brand and business affiliate offices.

Alan L., field training and development manager for franchise organization GF Enterprise, recently shared his experience with Tacos & Tuition (available for company-owned restaurants and select Franchises) and the value this benefit brings to quick-service restaurant teams.

Laura Gosselin took up writing mainly because her teachers complimented her work. “It was the only thing I was ever good at in school,” she admitted.

Sept. 25 was National Foodservice Workers Day in the U.S., and we’re proud to have some of the very best working in our restaurants.

Anthony has always been proud of the work he does as a Shift Supervisor at KFC in Lake City, FL. But after a major health challenge, he discovered another reason to be proud—knowing that the KFC Foundation was there to help him and his family when they needed it most.

Since its founding in 1997, Yum! has been Serving Up Good with its brands by investing in initiatives that enable team members, employees and communities to thrive.

"When I came to Taco Bell and found out that they would help me get my degree, it was insane. Getting my degree has been my goal for 21 years. Now, at 39, I get to make that dream a reality.”

2025 Live Más Scholar and Team Member Arturo M., is a first-generation student who had big dreams of working in healthcare, especially after he saw his own family go through language barriers in the hospital setting.

The Taco Bell Foundation announced it is awarding a record-breaking $28 million in Community Grants to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations across the U.S. – marking the largest annual grant investment in the Taco Bell Foundation’s 30+ year history.

Thousands of Humana employees to volunteer across five key cities, supporting food and nutrition needs, military families, urban green spaces and more.

Last week, 70 employees at Yum! Brands, KFC US and Henny Penny teamed up with Blessings in a Backpack Louisville Chapter to fill 1,500 meals for local Louisville, Kentucky students — helping ensure kids have food for the weekend.

May 28 was World Hunger Day, an observance supporting efforts to address food insecurity around the world. Feeding communities is foundational to the way Yum! Serves Up Good everyday

Today, Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) published its annual Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report, highlighting progress across the Company’s Good priorities of People, Food and Planet.

Since its founding in 1997, Yum! and its brands have Served Up Good by investing in initiatives that enable team members, employees and communities to thrive.

Food, people, and planet—these are the three north stars that help Yum! Brands —a 2025 recipient of the Corporate Responsibility Awards—focus its sustainability efforts across water use, energy, packaging, and more.

I’m inspired by the passion of others and motivated to create meaningful change in thoughtful, often indirect ways. What drives me most is the desire to leave things better than I found them.

Almost all of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees – 98% of nearly 61,000 locations, to be exact.

Cheers to 10 years of fueling dreams! The Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Más Scholarship is celebrating a decade of impact with its largest award yet—$14 million to passionate young changemakers across the U.S., including a record $4.5 million for Taco Bell team members.

At Yum!, we operate close to 61,000 restaurants in 155-plus countries and territories. One key to our success? Maximizing franchise operating capability.

Yum! Brands recently received the prestigious Community Cornerstone Award from Metro United Way, a non-profit organization focused on empowering the community in Yum!’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

The KFC France team came together with the KFC CNIT La Défense ProNoïa restaurant team for a Clean Walk around La Défense in Paris.

Congratulations to Pizza Hut Indonesia (PT. Sarimelati Kencana Tbk.) for their commitment to creating an Equal Slice for everyone through their community empowerment programs!

The KFC Foundation surprised the Kentucky Humane Society with their $10,000 Kentucky Fried Wishes grant! The grant will be used for their Women Warriors program.

At Habit Burger & Grill, giving back is a way of life. The Habit Caring Hearts and Relief (CHAR) Fund provides grants up to $2,500 to colleagues facing unexpected hardships. In 2024, the CHAR Fund granted over $58,000 to 29 team members in need.

Since 1997, Yum! Brands has expanded its global footprint to include restaurants in over 155 countries and territories, and it’s done so while keeping cost efficient — and eco-friendly — methods in mind.

KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell are giving their packaging a second life in support of parent company Yum!’s commitment to making its consumer-facing packaging more reusable, recyclable or compostable.

We've been working with pizza box supplier Smurfit Westrock to find ways to educate and raise awareness about pizza box recycling in the communities we serve.

Thrilled to share that KFC Kshamata – KFC India’s Purpose Platform – has bagged 14 awards in 2024, both nationally and globally, for the groundbreaking #SpeakSign campaign!

We caught up with Tshegofatso Rakwena to hear her thoughts on the Pizza Hut LeadHERship initiative.

Our partnership with Closed Loop Partners' Center for the Circular Economy in the Petaluma Reusable Cup Project is the first initiative to make “reuse” the default option in a U.S. city!

At KFC, we believe in feeding people’s potential – not only through our food but also by creating opportunities that drive change. As part of our unwavering commitment to gender balance and youth empowerment, we proudly partnered with Plan International to host a “Girls Takeover”

Growing up, Kayla Johnson loved baking with her mom, but in 2020, her hobby transformed into a full-fledged business. Like others during the pandemic, the KFC Digital & Technology (D&T) People & Culture business partner found comfort in watching baking shows.

Meghan Farren has been named president of Taco Bell North America, effective Feb. 10.

Across Pizza Hut, we are constantly inspired by the grit and determination shown by the people who operate and work in our restaurants. Congratulations to one of our newest restaurant owners for her remarkable achievement!

Pizza Hut, the world’s second biggest pizza restaurant chain, already buys 60 percent of the milk for its cheese in the U.S. through a farmer cooperative dedicated to cutting emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

Meet Lucy Taylor, our incredible COO of KFC UK & Ireland, whose 20-year journey has taken her to over 25 countries (and counting!). From breaking barriers to inspiring others, Lucy’s story is the definition of bold moves and bucket-worthy success.

Our KFC team in the Middle East launched 3al Asl Tawar almost 18 months ago – and has already made a difference to over 300 people.

We’re proud that TIME has named Yum! one the Best Companies for Future Leaders for the second consecutive year!

Habit Burger & Grill, KFC and Taco Bell customers in Petaluma, California, recently participated in the United States’ first city-wide reusable cup program, and their parent company is using data collected from that project to inform future packaging decisions.

Yum! Brands is proud to be included on 3BL’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2024 ranking and #1 in the Consumer Services industry!

The inaugural recipient of the Ted Balestreri Leadership Accelerator Award is James Fripp, Chief Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Officer for YUM! Brands, Inc.

Yum! Brands is the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill, so it knows how to craft craveable food and memorable customer experiences.

Parent Company of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill publishes its annual Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report.

Today, Yum! Brands, Inc. released its annual Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report, detailing its advancements in reducing carbon emissions, improving packaging and removing barriers.

Nothing motivates Jamie Harrison more than perfecting Taco Bell’s team member experience, which includes over 260,000 employees.

As part of our Pizza Hut Peduli 8P -- Renewable Energy initiative, we're excited to announce our new collaboration with Voltron to install electric vehicle charging stations at selected Pizza Hut restaurants.

We’re excited to share that our Hardship Assistance program has reached an incredible milestone: awarding over $2 million in aid to more than 1,000 KFC team members during times of need.