Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is a well-known restaurant in the world. It is rated at number 60 as the world's best-known brand by BusinessWeek (McDonalds at number 9 and Nescafe, at 23). Its history spans almost 80 years when it began in Corbin (Kentucky-USA), in the 1930s. During this time the United States was under the Great Depression with an unemployment rate of nearly 25%. The difficult time was probably one of the most important factors that forced Harland Sanders ("The Colonel") to start experimenting with various mixes of spices and herbs, trying to get the best formula for his recipe. (If we still remember the Asian economic collapse of 1997-2002, one of the last businesses left alive during the recession was the food industry.) By 1939, the recipe had already been perfected and the Colonel had expanded his restaurant to seat 142. . This was a fabulously large restaurant, the size equivalent to several tennis courts. However there was a problem. Time to WAIT! It took almost 30 minutes for the chicken to be cooked properly. Increase the gas and you risk having the chicken cooked on the outside but still red and bloody on the inside. Saved by the pressure cookerThanks to technology, the pressure cooker was introduced in 1939. The pressure cooker allows the liquid to boil at a higher temperature. Water, for example, normally boils at 100 degrees Celsius, but with a pressure cooker the sealed lid does not allow air or liquid to escape and allows the water to boil at a temperature above 125 degrees Celsius. This has significantly reduced cooking time and, as an added benefit, the nutrients (hence the taste) are retained making the food more delicious. Since the boiling point is much higher, this would also kill more germs and make the food last longer. It should be noted that the Colonel identified the pressure cooking technique a few weeks after its introduction. That means he was always looking for ways to improve the taste and time it takes to cook Kentucky's famous fried chicken. Time means money. Every minute saved means less waiting time and more customer satisfaction. This would also encourage first-time buyers to become repeat customers. The Colonel is also a smart guy. He can read the writing on the wall. In the early 1950s, he probably heard rumors that an interstate highway would be built BYPASSING his town. This could have a devastating effect on its business.