Don’t Make the Same Mistake As KFC

Are you a KFC fan? We bet you are!

KFC has been in this world for years now and almost everyone loves food items at KFC. But they are only super popular for their fried chicken. Hence, the name “KFC – Kentucky Fried Chicken.”

It was Colonel Sanders who made the popular mixture of herbs and spices that made KFC taste like the delicious treat that it is. This secret recipe is guarded by motion sensors and cameras around a 770-pound safe surrounded by two feet of concrete.

However, the latest news by the New York Times states that this secret recipe was revealed to the people. It was part of the last Will and testament of the second wife of Colonel Sanders.

Let’s read a story now!

A Recipe Creating Chaos

The Chicago Tribune reporter, Jay Jones, took by rail to Corbin, Kentucky in search of content for a piece about the town where the famous fried chicken came into origin. He organized a meeting with Joe Ledington, Sanders’ nephew.

Ledington shared an old scrapbook belonging to Claudia Ledington, Sanders’ second wife who passed away in 1996. This scrapbook contained her last Will and Testament with the handwritten recipe for spices. There were 11 spices and herbs that were used to make none other than the spice rub for the famous crispy chicken. This was the same recipe locked in an 800-pound safe.

The Twist to the Story

Yum Foods, the parent company owning KFC, denies the accuracy of the recipe. The recipe mentioned in the will is as follows:

• 2/3 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon thyme
• 1/2 tablespoon basil
• 1/3 tablespoon oregano
• 1 tablespoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried mustard
• 4 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 3 tablespoons white pepper

All these ingredients need to be mixed with 2 cups of flour. But do you think it’s safe to say that the original recipe hasn’t really leaked yet?

A Different Angle to the Story

Now, let’s look at this story from an estate planning perspective. There’s nothing wrong with passing down secret recipes to your successors. But if you plan on managing hundreds of franchise restaurants like the big giant KFC, you better plan things well.

Billions of dollars of revenue are at stake when such a recipe is revealed. KFC was already a successful giant when Claudia Ledington passed away. Perhaps, instead of leaving the handwritten recipe in the scrapbook, she should’ve rewritten it well and sealed it in a document or kept it hidden in a safety box.

Another point to ensure is to not leave your Will and Testament in the same place as the asset. Or else, what is even the point? Would you leave the key to your door lock hung on the door?

The Lesson Behind the Story

A lesson to be learned from this story is to create a Will carefully, including all the details and keeping it safe. You can consult a legal person on this matter and be extra cautious when it comes to your estate plan. The key is to safeguard important assets and documents so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Whether you write an online Will or a handwritten Will, the key is to make sure that it is safely stored somewhere only a trusted person can access it. You don’t want your secret information leaked, do you?