<P> Sanders' Original Recipe of "11 herbs and spices" is one of the most famous trade secrets in the catering industry . Franchisee Dave Thomas, better known as the founder of Wendy's, argued that the secret recipe concept was successful because "everybody wants in on a secret" and former KFC owner John Y. Brown, Jr. called it "a brilliant marketing ploy ." The New York Times described the recipe as one of the company's most valuable assets . The recipe is not patented, because patents are published in detail and come with an expiration date, whereas trade secrets can remain the intellectual property of their holders in perpetuity . </P> <P> KFC uses its Original Recipe as a means to differentiate its product from its competitors . Early franchisee Pete Harman credited the chain's popularity to the recipe and the product, and John Y. Brown cites the "incredibly tasty, almost addictive" product as the basis of KFC's staying power . On the other hand, Allen Adamson, managing director of brand consultancy Landor, remains unconvinced about the contribution of the secret formula aspect . He argues: "The story may still be part of these companies' folklore, but I'd be surprised if more than 2 percent buy the brand because of it ." </P> <P> A copy of the recipe, signed by Sanders, is held inside a safe inside a vault in KFC's Louisville headquarters, along with eleven vials containing the herbs and spices . To maintain the secrecy of the recipe, half of it is produced by Griffith Laboratories before it is given to McCormick, who add the second half . </P> <P> In 1983, William Poundstone conducted laboratory research into the coating mix, as described in his book Big Secrets, and claimed that a sample he examined contained only flour, salt, monosodium glutamate and black pepper . KFC maintains that it still adheres to Sanders' original 1940 recipe . In Todd Wilbur's television program Top Secret Recipe, the Colonel's former secretary, Shirley Topmiller, revealed that Sanders learned from his mother that sage and savory are good seasonings for chicken . Also, Winston Shelton, a former friend of the Colonel's, revealed that the secret recipe contains Tellicherry black pepper . </P>

How do they keep the kfc recipe secret