CHENGDU – November 12, 2026 -- Yum China Holdings (NYSE: YUMC; HKEX: 9987) has passed 20,000 stores across more than 2,800 cities and towns in China, and targets 30,000 stores by 2030, which means adding 10,000 more within four years.
The company announced the milestone at its annual convention for restaurant general managers (RGMs) in Chengdu, attended by more than 10,000 RGMs. It marked the occasion by opening six stores simultaneously, one for each brand it runs in Mainland China: KFC, Pizza Hut, Lavazza, Taco Bell, Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang. The milestone coincides with the 10th anniversary of its New York Stock Exchange listing.
Yum China cut the time to add 10,000 stores from 33 years to six
The first KFC in China opened in 1987. Reaching the first 10,000 stores took 33 years, and the next 10,000 took six. The 30,000-store target for 2030 was set at the company's 2025 investor day. Yum China plans to get there through its equity-and-franchise hybrid model, with store formats tailored to different city tiers and consumer occasions.
KFC and Pizza Hut have also built side-by-side modules, including KCOFFEE café, KPRO and Pizza Hut Burger Bar. The company says these capture new consumer occasions and add sales and profit.
Yum China reports double-digit EPS growth in each of the past three years
Diluted EPS grew at a double-digit rate year over year in the first nine months of this year and in each of the past three years. The company continues to target a double-digit diluted EPS compound annual growth rate from 2026 to 2028.
CEO Joey Wat said 2026 is the second year of the RGM 3.0 strategy, which centers on resilience, growth and moat. She said the company remains focused on "solving problems, turning strategy into action."
Yum China upgrades its Q-Smart pilot into an AI Store Assistant
Yum China has explored and deployed agentic AI since 2023. In 2025 it began piloting Q-Smart, an assistant that helps restaurant managers with data-intensive tasks such as labor scheduling and inventory management.
The new AI Store Assistant builds on Q-Smart. It links AI with restaurant operating data and connected kitchen equipment to give real-time operating recommendations. It can detect changes in restaurant traffic and suggest adjustments to production and staffing, which the company says helps restaurants respond faster and cut food waste.
Yum China launches an AI-aided service center for RGM requests
The RGM One-Stop Service Center, launched this year, gives managers a single interface. A dedicated case manager, aided by AI, handles requests across IT, human resources, supply chain, finance and other functions. Over time, the company expects the system to generate insights into restaurant needs that can improve processes and decision-making.
Yum China is also expanding medical support for frontline staff. Services include medical appointment registration, help scheduling hospitalization and surgery, and complimentary caregiver support for eligible employees and their family members.