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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O4mfeOUtjOS8fqF5m2tis3bq8lhm6Zj4nyaB+tFkWeuk9xnAa8+/q3g+3jqGvTui
 JZxEDF0C6V/kSt8Gi3mwHQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001041061-04-000248.txt : 20040720
<SEC-HEADER>0001041061-04-000248.hdr.sgml : 20040720
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040720142856
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001041061-04-000248
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040720
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040720

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN THOMAS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194416

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13163
		FILM NUMBER:		04921851

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CVS DR
		CITY:			WOONSOCKET
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02895

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YUM BRANDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041061
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				133951308
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1441 GARDINER LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5028748300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 COLONEL SANDERS LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRICON GLOBAL RESTAURANTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970627

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREAT AMERICAN RESTAURANT CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970618
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041061</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>YUM BRANDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>YUM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194416</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN THOMAS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CVS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CVS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOONSOCKET</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02895</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-07-20</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Ryan Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas M. Ryan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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