Church’s Chicken is a popular fast food chain known for its delicious fried chicken and classic sides like mashed potatoes and biscuits. The brand has a long history dating back to 1952 when it was founded in San Antonio, Texas by George W. Church Sr. However, like many established restaurant chains, Church’s Chicken has gone through various ownership changes over the decades. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of who has owned Church’s Chicken over the years.
A Local Start Leads to Rapid National Expansion
Church’s Chicken started out as a single take-out restaurant in San Antonio in 1952. Church Sr. himself owned and operated that original location across from the Alamo until his death in 1956. After that his family took over the small chain which had expanded to 8 local restaurants by 1962.
Church’s began franchising and expanding nationally in the mid-1960s under the leadership of Church Sr.’s son Bill Church Jr. By 1968 there were over 100 Church’s Chicken restaurants in 7 states, making it the first major fast food chain out of Texas. Through acquisitions and organic growth, the chain continued expanding rapidly across the U.S. throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Acquisition by Popeyes and Later Arcapita
In 1989, Church’s Chicken was acquired by the parent company of fellow chicken chain Popeyes for $330 million. The goal was to merge the two brands under one umbrella company called AFC Enterprises. However, this venture proved unsuccessful and ultimately ended in bankruptcy.
After restructuring and reemerging as a stable public company in the 1990s, AFC Enterprises sold off Church’s Chicken to an investment group called Arcapita in 2004. Under Arcapita’s ownership, most pork products were removed from Church’s menu in keeping with Islamic dietary laws observed by the new owners.
The Friedman Fleischer & Lowe Era
In 2009, the private equity firm Friedman Fleischer & Lowe purchased Church’s Chicken from Arcapita in a deal valued around $390 million. This ushered in a new era of ownership focused on revamping franchising programs and modernizing systems and menus. However, Church’s continued to face struggles including declining sales and store closures over the next decade.
High Bluff Capital Acquires Church’s Chicken in 2021
After years of stagnation, Church’s Chicken was acquired in 2021 by High Bluff Capital Partners, the investment group behind Quiznos and Taco Del Mar. The sale was seen as a chance to inject new life into the brand with refreshed marketing, products and expansion plans. High Bluff aims to enhance Church’s technology platforms, roll out new menu items more quickly, and explore alternate restaurant formats.
A Summary of Key Ownership Eras
To briefly recap, here are the major companies and investment groups that have owned Church’s Chicken over its 70-year history:
- 1952-1968: Founder George W. Church Sr. and the Church Family
- 1968-1989: Public company after IPO in 1969
- 1989-2004: AFC Enterprises (merged with Popeyes)
- 2004-2009: Arcapita investment group
- 2009-2021: Friedman Fleischer & Lowe private equity firm
- 2021-Present: High Bluff Capital Partners private equity firm
What to Expect from the Current Owners
While the path has twisted and turned, Church’s Chicken now finds itself under new ownership that has expressed an eagerness to modernize and revitalize this iconic chicken brand. Fans can likely expect menu innovation, new restaurant formats, and technology improvements in the coming years as Church’s looks to appeal to a new generation of fried chicken lovers.
However, High Bluff will also need to strike a balance between updating Church’s and preserving the core Southern flavors and recipes that have defined the chain since its inception in San Antonio. It’s a challenging but exciting time for a brand seeking to honor its heritage while evolving to meet contemporary consumer preferences.
Church’s Is Positioned to Thrive Under Strong Ownership
Despite being bought and sold numerous times, Church’s Chicken has shown remarkable resilience. As long as the new owners continue providing quality food, service, and value, Church’s has a bright future ahead. The brand awareness and customer loyalty built up over decades give Church’s a solid foundation to build upon.
While the faces that own Church’s have changed, the core essence of juicy, flavorful, fried chicken remains. That winning recipe is sure to keep this chain satisfied customers and drive growth for years to come, regardless of who holds the keys. With proven leadership and smart strategies, Church’s can continue succeeding well into its next 70 years.
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Church’s Chicken – The Rise and Fall…And Rise Again
FAQ
Who is the owner of Church’s chicken franchise?
Church’s Texas Chicken trades as Texas Chicken or Church’s Chicken in many countries. The chain is owned by American private equity firm High Bluff Capital Partners.
Is KFC suing Church’s chicken?
KFC claimed in a lawsuit that beginning September 30, it noticed Church’s “abruptly” began using the phrase and ignored KFC’s October 24 letter objecting to the ads. In the disputed promotions, Church’s posted photos of its fried chicken deals with text above reading: “our original recipe is back.”
Who owns Dave’s chicken?
Did Al Copeland own Church’s chicken?
Yes, Al Copeland, the founder of Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, did own Church’s Chicken. In 1989, his company, Al Copeland Enterprises, acquired Church’s Chicken, which was the second-largest chicken chain at the time. This merger made the combined entity the second-largest chicken restaurant chain in the US, with over 2,000 locations.