Pete Harman
Encyclopedia
Leon Weston "Pete" Harman (born 1919) is best known for having struck a deal with Colonel Harland Sanders to open the first KFC
franchise
. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah
it opened for business in August 1952.
Harman was born in 1919 in Salt Lake City, Utah
to David Reese (1874–1924) and Grace May (1879–1919) Hemenway. Harman was the youngest of 14 children in a Mormon
family including La Conaus, David Vernon (World War I soldier for the US army) (1900–1980), Kenneth Hemenway(1902–1965), triplets Margery, Velma Lavon (1904–1993), & Bruce, twins Ralph Julius (1906–1973) & Carolin (born 1906), Amy Hemenway (born 1907), Maurice, Eliza May (born 1910), George Reese (1912–1976), & John (born 1916).
Harman and his wife, Arline, opened their first restaurant, The Do Drop Inn, with two employees in 1941.
Harman worked with Harlan Sanders to develop and prepare the KFC system for franchising, working to develop training manuals and product guides. His other claims to fame are the development of the bucket packaging and the emphasis on the "Finger-lickin' good" motto.
In 1990 the International Foodservice Manufacturer Association recognized Harman's achievements with its Gold Plate Award. At the time of the award the Harman Management Corp. of Los Altos, California
, employs over 4,000 people and operates 238 KFC stores in four states. Credit for his success was given to his enlightened practices towards his staff including stock purchase schemes.
His original KFC building was demolished in 2004 to make way for a museum and an updated restaurant.
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
it opened for business in August 1952.
Harman was born in 1919 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to David Reese (1874–1924) and Grace May (1879–1919) Hemenway. Harman was the youngest of 14 children in a Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
family including La Conaus, David Vernon (World War I soldier for the US army) (1900–1980), Kenneth Hemenway(1902–1965), triplets Margery, Velma Lavon (1904–1993), & Bruce, twins Ralph Julius (1906–1973) & Carolin (born 1906), Amy Hemenway (born 1907), Maurice, Eliza May (born 1910), George Reese (1912–1976), & John (born 1916).
Harman and his wife, Arline, opened their first restaurant, The Do Drop Inn, with two employees in 1941.
Harman worked with Harlan Sanders to develop and prepare the KFC system for franchising, working to develop training manuals and product guides. His other claims to fame are the development of the bucket packaging and the emphasis on the "Finger-lickin' good" motto.
In 1990 the International Foodservice Manufacturer Association recognized Harman's achievements with its Gold Plate Award. At the time of the award the Harman Management Corp. of Los Altos, California
Los Altos, California
Los Altos is a city at the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 28,976 according to the 2010 census....
, employs over 4,000 people and operates 238 KFC stores in four states. Credit for his success was given to his enlightened practices towards his staff including stock purchase schemes.
His original KFC building was demolished in 2004 to make way for a museum and an updated restaurant.
Sources
- Deseret News, Wednesday, April 21, 2004
- Keegan, Peter O.; "IFMA gold-plates 'Pete' Harman - International Foodservice Manufacturer Association"; Nation's Restaurant News, June 4, 1990
- adherents.com