Ky.-based Tricon Global Restaurants' strategy has been to give its Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell brands autonomy in pursuing global growth. Advantica is pursuing a strategy intended to move it away from the rigors of multichain management. A unified corporate leadership team is involved in all franchise decisions and a franchisee advisory council facilitates commingling of ideas from both brands. AFC's Church's and Popeyes chains compete in the same restaurant segment, but the parent intends to keep them separate. Both are headquartered in the same building but on different floors in Atlanta, across the street from parent AFC's corporate offices.
Poultry is purchased through a single co-op.
But purchases of each brand are confidential. A firewall exists to protect each other,'' says AFC's Hartman. Different market positionings help keep them friendly siblings. Popeyes wants to corner the market on Cajun,'' says Hartman. Its cooking style, exterior fa ade, d cor and music reinforce the Cajun theme.