US-based fast food giant KFC opened a drive-through outlet in Shanghai on October 11, making it the 1,500th outlet in China.

The new outlet is the first KFC drive-through in Shanghai and second on the mainland. The other drive-through is in Beijing.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum!Brands Inc, owners of the KFC brand and others like Long John Silver's and A&W, first entered China's market in 1987.

"To consolidate its presence in China, KFC had to make a strategic shift", said Zhu Zongyi, vice president of Yum Restaurants Greater China Ltd.

Zhu said KFC doesn't only offer traditional western fast food but also items that are more palatable to Chinese tastes.

Yum!Brands has a presence in 200 Chinese cities with KFC restaurants and more than 100 Pizza Hut and Taco Bell outlets.

KFC has more than 13,000 outlets worldwide, serving 8 million customers daily in more than 100 countries.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2005)