Fast food in China from past to present

What was the business like when it first opened?

It was an instant hit and we were breaking sales records almost every day. During the first year, our daily turnover peaked at 150,000 yuan ($22,790), an amount no other KFC in the world has achieved even till today despite inflation over the past three decades. It was common that customers had to wait for one or two hours outside the store. Sometimes customers would just tour the store and leave without buying anything because 2.5 yuan for a piece of fried chicken was considered too pricey.

We also had to deal with misconceptions because most Chinese customers had never been to a fast food store before. There were actually people who tried ordering chicken soup noodles or a whole chicken. Some even said they wanted to order "a KFC". There were also people who left the counter after paying and we had to explain to them that KFC was a self-service restaurant.

Was it a big deal to work at KFC since it was so popular?

For the first few years, my family and friends did not know what I was doing. The most common question I was asked was if I fried the chickens at the restaurant. We started with 2 yuan per day and quickly progressed to 5 yuan per day. I guess we were the best-paid cashiers and waitresses in China then.

Starting from the third year of operations, KFC started to recruit again for its second location. Many of those who applied for the job had "special connections" to become a cashier or a waiter.

How has KFC in China changed over the decades?

In 1987, KFC came and offered whatever it had without knowing or caring if the consumers even wanted fried chicken. Today, Chinese consumers are increasingly sophisticated and knowledgeable, and we are making every decision based on large amounts of consumers insights and market data.