Greater Midwest KFC Franchise Association

President, Vijay Patel

Welcome to the Greater Midwest KFC Franchisee Association website. Our association is founded on the heritage of the Colonel, and the culture of franchisees helping each other to develop and grow.

Our association provides a wonderful forum, whether it is developing and recognizing our restaurant leaders at our Spring RGM meetings, or the learning, fellowship, sharing and fun at our fall franchisee business meetings. We are committed to bringing independent thinking, learning opportunities and the wisdom of the entire franchisee system to our members, as well as providing a forum for discussions with our vendors and corporate partners.

As we all work hard to provide our customers with the standards of food quality, service and cleanliness that the Colonel was famous for, we are thankful for the legacy he left us, which has led to our success.

Vijay Patel, President

Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees

The Greater Midwest Region is one of six domestic regions that make up the Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees, Inc. (AKFCF). The AKFCF was formed in 1974 and has a colorful history.

When Colonel Sanders sold Kentucky Fried Chicken, he feared his franchisees would lose control of their own businesses and the future that they were working toward and in which they had invested. So he encouraged them to unite to protect the franchisees that he considered part of his own “family” and to give the franchisees a voice in the future development of a concept which would prove to be far greater than was envisioned at the time. This brought about several small meetings with early franchisees and in 1965 the Southeastern Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisee Association was formed and formally organized in Atlanta, Georgia. Ten years later, the AKFCF (our national association) was incorporated in the same city.

The AKFCF is unique with the “family” spirit of its membership and firmly rooted in the values of Colonel Sanders. Its purpose is clearly stated with its Mission Statement, adopted September 12, 1993, in Washington, DC: “The Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees, Inc. is united to protect, promote and advance the mutual interests of all member franchisees and the Kentucky Fried Chicken system”.  This mission statement was updated effective May, 2000, to reflect a worldwide focus.

The AKFCF remains focused on protecting and promoting its members’ investments in a healthy KFC organization.

Events

2024 Super Regional will be at the Marriott Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Florida from 9/29 – 10/2

AKFCF Convention | Opryland in Nashville, March 22-26th

Fall 2024 Agenda

leadership directory

Greater Midwest KFC Franchisee Association

Executive Committee

Vijay Patel, President

Chris King, 1st Vice President

Heather Bowling, 2nd Vice President

Nanette Walker, Immediate Past President

Kevin Schlutz, Secretary & AKFCF Secretary

Noah Hommerding, Treasurer

AKFCF Past Presidents

From the Greater Midwest Region

Justin Stewart

Jim McKenzie

Joe Hall

Keith Chambers

Jack Richards

Fred Bauer

Joan Bowling

Bryan Robinson

Dale Black

Chuck Weaver

Kevin Schlutz

Bill Allen

Bob Schlutz

Don Nicholson

Joe Zimmerman

Board of Directors

Vijay Patel, President

Chris King, 1st Vice President

Heather Bowling, 2nd Vice President

Noah Hommerding, Treasurer, Past President, NPC

Kevin Schlutz, Secretary

Bryan Robinson, NCAC

Mike Kulp, NCAC

Jim McKenzie, NCAC

Joan Bowling, NCAC

Bryan Robinson, NPC

Ron Coulter, Director

Justin Stewart, PP

Chris King, Director

Tony Lambos, GAC

Brooke Korbas, Director

Heather Bowling, Director

Bryant Davis, Director

Mike Grieves, Director

Doug Elish, Director

Sherry Houston, Director

Michelle Hunt, AKFCF Admin/Assistant Secretary

Contact us

Greater Midwest KFC Franchisee Association