Yum! Brands issued a statement Sept. 17 that it acquired 13 PDQ restaurant site leases in Florida for future development of its concepts, including the new Saucy by KFC.
The leases include the one at 4816 Gate Parkway near St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville already identified in permitting as in review for conversion into Saucy, a concept backed by KFC Corp. that sells chicken tenders with 11 sauces.
“The company intends to transform the locations into concepts operated by Yum! Brands, including expansion of the test program for the new chicken tender concept Saucy! by KFC, consistent with previously communicated plans,” a spokesperson said in the statement.
Along with KFC, Yum Brands owns Habit Burger & Grill, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, so the 13 could be converted into Saucy or one of those brands, according to the spokesperson.
PDQ’s menu includes chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches and chicken salads.
'A real estate transaction'
“Yum! Brands is not buying the PDQ brand or IP,” the statement said. “This is a real estate transaction.”
Employees at affected locations have been notified by PDQ management, the statement said.
“They will be offered the opportunity to apply for a role at the new restaurants as the transition occurs over the coming months,” said the spokesperson.
The statement said the 13 leaseholds comprise four in Central Florida, three in North Florida and six on the state’s West Coast.
It did not provide addresses or cities.
There are four PDQ locations in Northeast Florida, with three in Duval County and one in St. Johns County. PDQ has stores in Bartram Park; at Beach and Hodges boulevards; in the Town Center area; and in Julington Creek in St. Johns.
The Gate Parkway PDQ was built in 2017. The 1.65-acre site was sold in 2020 to a Boynton Beach limited liability company.
The Yum Brands spokesperson said the PDQ restaurants are continuing to operate as usual. The 13 in the transaction will transition to Yum concepts starting this month.
The opening date of Saucy along Gate Parkway will be shared in the coming weeks, the spokesperson said.
More information about restaurants that will transition to Yum Brands will be shared in the future.
PDQ is posting information about upcoming restaurant transitions in the Guest Care section of its eatpdq.com site, the spokesperson said, and the deal has no impact on PDQ restaurants other than the 13.
Tampa-based PDQ says on its website that it was founded in 2011 with locations in Florida, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina.
The eatpdq.com site shows 53 PDQ locations with 49 in Florida, three in North Carolina and one in New Jersey, including those in Jacksonville and Orlando expected to be converted.
The first Saucy location opened in December at 502 S. Alafaya Trail in Orlando.
The eatpdq.com site posted Aug. 31 that some of its PDQ locations “will soon be closing and reopening under the YUM! family of brands.”
It listed three Central Florida locations.
“This isn’t a goodbye to every location, but it is a heartfelt thank you for the moments we’ve shared together. From family dinners to shakes with friends, your support has meant the world to us. You’ve been part of something truly special, and for that we are so grateful.”
The Orlando Sentinel reported Sept. 4 on orlandosentinel.com that three Central Florida PDQ Chicken restaurants would close Sept. 14 to be replaced by Saucy restaurants in Hunter’s Creek, Winter Park and near the Waterford Lakes community. EatPDQ.com confirms those sites and says the Waterford location is near the University of Central Florida.
About Saucy
Saucy by KFC is operated by KFC Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., with a corporate campus in Louisville, Kentucky, and two brand HQ campuses in Plano, Texas, and Irving, California.
KFC.com said Dec. 18, 2024, that the “bold new concept” celebrates “the star of every tenders meal: Sauce.”
The kfc.com site said the Dec. 23, 2024, debut of Saucy in Orlando introduced “a flavor-forward dining destination offering chicken tender lovers the chance to dip, dunk and customize their meal with 11 sauces,” a nod to the 11 herbs and spices in KFC’s Original Recipe.
“Always made hot, fresh and crispy, Saucy’s tenders pair perfectly with sweet, spicy, savory and smoky global flavors, all complemented by an 11-beverage lineup that includes a variety of teas, freezes and refreshers.”
“With Saucy, we’ve taken KFC’s famous Original Recipe and amplified it with a brand-new concept that lets consumers play with flavor,” KFC Chief New Concept Officer Christopher Poirier said in a news release.
Sauces include five flavors of ranch along with sweet and spicy, sweet and saucy barbecue, spicy mango chutney, creole honey mustard, sweet teriyaki and “Saucy’s Sauce.”
'A bold choice'
The Yum! site said in August 2025 that Saucy “may seem like a bold choice for a brand whose product is its name – Kentucky Fried Chicken – but the decision was made based on over a decade’s worth of research, a handful of corporate rebels and an epic collective brainstorming session. The new concept is off to a strong start as Yum! Brands plans to expand the test to additional locations this year.”
The kfc.com site says Saucy will feature a modern look and feel “plus a tech-forward customer experience.”
The site says customers can order sauces individually or in a flight of four with their choice of tenders that are hand-breaded and fried in small batches.
Also available are an EZ Crispy Sandwich, Spicy Queso Crunch Sandwich or combos that include a three-piece tenders combo with a toasted roll, fries, medium drink and choice of sauce for $7.99.
There are desserts and beverages, which include refreshers, lemonades, freezes and teas.