Overview
- KFC Italy announced plans to open two quick‑service outlets attached to mountain huts in the Dolomites, with operators saying service will begin on 5 December 2026 at Madonna di Campiglio (about 1,700 m) and on Faloria in Cortina d’Ampezzo (around 2,000–2,123 m).
- The sites are being developed in partnership with Super G, a mountain‑venue operator known for large après‑ski events, and company spokespeople say the concept aims to reach skiers, families and younger visitors.
- Environmental and heritage groups, local cultural figures and regional politicians have condemned the move as commercialisation that erodes regional food traditions and harms protected landscapes, with Mountain Wilderness calling for a five‑year moratorium on high‑altitude construction.
- Mayors and local officials have publicly opposed the project but say existing permitting rules and hospitality licences limit their legal power to block the openings, highlighting gaps in provincial and municipal spatial planning.
- The controversy ties into a wider regional debate over recent high‑altitude developments, pressures on small hut operators from economic hardship, risks to the UNESCO‑listed Dolomites and growing calls for clearer rules to govern future tourism infrastructure.