KFC restaurants in the Treasure Valley are getting new owners.
Seven KFC restaurants in Ada County and two in Canyon County are currently owned by D & D Idaho Foods, according to county records. That is one of a group of companies based in Hanford, Calif., that ran California and Minnesota KFC restaurants until they were sold to a Popeye's franchise owner this year.
The KFC franchise group filed for bankruptcy with $61 million in debt, according to a 2011 report in Restaurant Finance Monitor, a trade publication. The report said the KFC restaurants were reportedly profitable but the companies couldn't stay afloat when falling sales didn't make up for the costs of renovations.
The restaurants were sold for $13.8 million to Popeye's franchise owner and operator AFC Enterprises, which plans to turn them into Popeye's restaurants, according to several news outlets. Popeye's like KFC, specializes in fried chicken.
The organization poised to take over Boise- and Nampa-area KFC restaurants has not been made public. A new Popeye's business entity in Boise was created Oct. 24, according to state records. Its owner, who also runs the Popeye's restaurant in Boise, could not be reached Tuesday and Wednesday.
A sign posted this week at the KFC/Long John Silver's restaurant on State Street in Boise said that store will close Friday. It didn't indicate whether the restaurant will stay closed.
The KFC corporate website said Wednesday that Idaho is a key growth area for KFC. The website said the corporation is looking for qualified franchise candidates in the Boise market in particular.
A woman who answered the phone at D & D in California said the company had no comment and hung up.
Audrey Dutton: 377-6448
