Weeks after Priszm Income Fund extended its franchise arrangement for the KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands in Canada with Yum Restaurants International, Priszm announced Monday that it is shifting all of the marketing responsibility for KFC back to Yum.
Priszm has handled most of the marketing and advertising for KFC promotions and launches since 2003. "It was unique for Priszm as a franchisee to lead marketing on behalf of the brands," said John Bitove, executive chairman of Priszm, in a release.
Priszm said the changes was part of its "revised direction" for the company that will include $15 million in store upgrades in 2010. The company also announced that Steve Langford, president of the KFC and Taco Bell brands, would be leaving the company, and Jim Robertson has been hired as chief operating officer for Priszm’s 444 Canadian restaurants.
"With our renewed focus to upgrade and re-invest in our restaurants, we decided it was in the best interest of Priszm and KFC Canada to transition marketing leadership and costs back to Yum Canada so Priszm can become even more focused on running great restaurants for our customers," said Bitove.
Bitove is also chair of DAVE Wireless, one of three new wireless brands preparing to enter the Canadian market in the months ahead.
