Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits

Last updated

Bojangles Inc.
Private
ISIN US0974881007  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Industry Food
Founded1977;43 years ago (1977)
Founders Jack Fulk
Richard Thomas
Headquarters Charlotte, North Carolina
Number of locations
750+ [1]
440 franchised,
319 company-owned [2] (Dec 30, 2018)
Area served
Southeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic states
Key people
  • Jose Armario (CEO)
  • Brian Unger (COO)
  • Jackie Woodward [2] (CMO)
Products Fast food, including fried chicken, biscuits, french fries
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$ 1.28billion (2017) [2]
Owner The Jordan Company
Durational Capital Management
Website www.bojangles.com

Bojangles Inc. is an American regional chain of fast food restaurants, specializing in cajun-seasoned fried chicken, and buttermilk biscuits that primarily serves the Southeastern United States. The company was founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1977 by Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas. [3]

Contents

History

Logo used until 2020 Bojangles.png
Logo used until 2020

Bojangles' opened its first location in Charlotte in 1977. The following year, the first franchised restaurant began operations.

Jack Fulk sold the Bojangles' concept to the now-defunct Horn & Hardart Company of New York [4] in 1981.

Bojangles' received fame in 1989 because their restaurants remained open when Hurricane Hugo struck the Carolinas while a majority of other fast-food restaurants had closed. [5]

During the time of Horn and Hardart's ownership, the chain grew rapidly and expanded to 335 restaurants including 100 restaurants in Florida. Part of this growth was fueled by acquisitions including the Florida-based Biscuits chain.

In 1990, Horn and Hardart sold most of its interest to Sienna Partners and Interwest Partners. The company was then headed by former KFC executive, Dick Campbell. In 1994 the company attempted a public offering. Campbell was subsequently replaced by CEO Jim Peterson. The company was sold to a group of investors headed by former Wendy's executive Joe Drury and financed by FMAC in 1998. [6]

Bojangles' expanded throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with the 300th location opening in 2003. The restaurant started its first college campus location on the grounds of Central Piedmont Community College in 2005. The company also purchased naming rights to the original Charlotte Coliseum on Independence Boulevard in Charlotte.

Bojangles' was purchased again in 2007 by Falfurrias Capital Partners, [7] a private equity firm. The first airport location was opened in 2008 at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In August 2011, Falfurrias sold Bojangles' to Boston-based Advent International, another private equity firm, after a competitive bidding process with other investors. [8]

Advertisement for Bojangles' at Durham Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina (1989) DAP Bull 890625b.JPG
Advertisement for Bojangles' at Durham Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina (1989)

In 2012, Bojangles' began sponsoring the NASCAR race Bojangles' Southern 500, and opened another college campus restaurant at UNC Greensboro. [9]

The company opened its 600th restaurant on July 8, 2014, on Galleria Road in Charlotte with Charlotte mayor Dan Clodfelter cutting the celebratory ribbon. [10]

In April 2015, the company filed with the US regulator for an initial public offering of its common stock, expecting to raise $372 million. [11]

In January 2019, Randy Kibler was replaced by Jose Armario as the Chief Executive Officer and brought with him Brian Unger, to serve as the Chief Operating Officer. Both individuals were past employees of McDonald's. [12]

On January 28, 2019, Bojangles' was acquired by the Jordan Company and Durational Capital Management (making Bojangles' a privately held company) [13] with Bojangles' shareholders receiving $ 16.10 a share [14] [15] after their approval on January 14, 2019. [16]

In December 2019, Bojangles' and Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores came to an agreement to add 40 Bojangles' locations at Love's Travel Stops in Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi - all new states for Bojangles' - over the next ten years. [17]

At various times[ when? ] Bojangles' has franchised restaurants in Grand Cayman Island, Jamaica, Honduras, Mexico, Ireland, and China.[ citation needed ] Currently, U.S.-based restaurants are in 11 U.S. states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia. Their home state of North Carolina has the largest number of locations. [18]

On August 3, 2020, the company released a statement stating it was dropping the apostrophe from it name. The same day, Bojangles released a video announcing a partnership with Dale Earnhardt Jr., the first celebrity to say the words, "It's Bo time." [19]

Fried chicken at Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits 2012.jpg
Fried chicken at Bojangles'

Restaurants offer the full menu during all operating hours. Biscuit sandwiches are the predominant breakfast item, including their signature cajun chicken filet biscuit, as well as country ham, egg, cheese, bacon, sausage, and country fried steak options. For lunch and dinner, their signature item is their bone-in fried chicken with a variety of side items (called "Fixin's"), including french fries, cajun-seasoned pinto beans, dirty rice, Bo-tato Rounds (a type of tater tot), coleslaw, green beans, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and grits. They also offer boneless chicken tenders known as "Chicken Supremes" which are served with a variety of dipping sauces, fried and grilled chicken sandwiches, a fish sandwich known as the "Bojangler", and a number of salads which can be topped with either grilled or fried chicken. Desserts include the Bo-Berry biscuit, which is a biscuit with blueberries and topped with a sugar glaze, a sweet-potato fried pie, and cinnamon buns. Seasonal and limited-time offerings also appear on some menus, such as pork chop biscuits. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

Cuisine of the Southern United States cuisine of the Southern United States

The cuisine of the Southern United States developed in the traditionally defined American South. Tidewater, Appalachian, Cajun, Creole, Lowcountry, and Floribbean are examples of types of Southern cuisine. In recent history, elements of Southern cuisine have spread north, having an effect on the development of other types of American cuisine.

KFC American fast food restaurant chain

KFC is an American fast food restaurant chain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, that specializes in fried chicken. It is the world's second-largest restaurant chain after McDonald's, with 22,621 locations globally in 150 countries as of December 2019. The chain is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, a restaurant company that also owns the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and WingStreet chains.

Arbys U.S. sandwich chain

Arby's is an American fast food sandwich restaurant chain with more than 3,300 restaurants system wide and third in terms of revenue. In October 2017, Food & Wine called Arby's "America's second largest sandwich chain ".

Chick-fil-A American fast food chain

Chick-fil-A is one of the largest American fast food restaurant chains and the largest whose specialty is chicken sandwiches. Its headquarters is in College Park, Georgia. Chick-fil-A was originally founded as the Dwarf Grill in 1946, changing the name to 'Dwarf House' until rebranding as Chick-fil-A in 1967. The company operates more than 2,605 restaurants, primarily in the United States with locations in 48 states. The restaurant serves breakfast before transitioning to its lunch and dinner menu. Chick-fil-A also offers customers catered selections from its menu for special events.

Krystal is an American fast food restaurant chain headquartered in Dunwoody, Georgia, with restaurants in the Southeastern United States. It is known for its small, square hamburgers, called sliders in places other than the Southeast, with steamed-in onions. Krystal moved its corporate headquarters from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it had been based since 1932, to the Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody in early 2013.

Churchs Chicken US chicken restaurant chain

Church's Chicken is an American chain of fast food restaurants specializing in fried chicken, also trading outside North America as Texas Chicken. The chain was founded as Church's Fried Chicken To Go by George W. Church Sr., on April 17, 1952, in San Antonio, Texas, across the street from The Alamo.

Popeyes American multinational chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants

Popeyes is an American multinational chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana and headquartered in Miami, Florida. Since 2008, its full brand name is Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., and it was formerly named Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits. It is currently a subsidiary of Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International.

McChicken Chicken sandwich sold by McDonalds

The McChicken is a chicken sandwich sold by the international fast food restaurant chain McDonald's. The sandwich consists of a toasted wheat bun, a breaded chicken patty, shredded lettuce, and mayonnaise.

Five Guys Burger and fries chain, based in the United States

Five Guys Enterprises LLC is an American fast casual restaurant chain focused on hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries, and headquartered in Lorton, Virginia, an unincorporated part of Fairfax County. The first Five Guys restaurant opened in 1986 in Arlington County, Virginia, and by 2001, the chain had expanded to five locations throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Albaik Arabian fast food restaurant chain

Albaik is a major fast food restaurant chain in Saudi Arabia that primarily sells broasted chicken and shrimp with a variety of sauces. It is one of the major consumers of chicken in Saudi Arabia. The chain has more than 40 branches in Jeddah where it is headquartered: ten in Mecca, eight in Medina, two in Buraydah, one in Taif, one in Yanbu, one in Al Qunfudhah, one in Al-Lith, one in Al-Kharj, and one in Riyadh. Recently, Albaik started expanding further into the central region of Saudi Arabia with two branches opened in Buraidah, and planning to open in Abha and further branches planned for the city, in addition to other main cities in the region. This marked the first time the chain has expanded outside its main service area in Saudi Arabia's western provinces. Albaik was also introduced in Saudi Arabia's South Province, in the city of Jizan in 2016. As of 2019, Albaik is constructing its new branch in Al Baha.

Wingstop American restaurant company

Wingstop Inc. is a chain of nostalgic, aviation-themed restaurants specializing in chicken wings. Wingstop locations are decorated following a 1930s and 1940s "pre-jet" aviation theme. The restaurant chain was founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, and began offering franchises in 1998. Since then, Wingstop has grown into a chain with more than 1,000 restaurants either open or in development. The chain is headquartered in Addison, Texas.

When the predecessor of international fast food restaurant chain Burger King (BK) first opened in 1953, its menu predominantly consisted of hamburgers, French fries, soft drinks, milkshakes, and desserts. After being acquired by its Miami, Florida franchisees and renamed in 1954, BK began expanding its menu by adding the Whopper sandwich in 1957, and has since added non-beef items such as chicken, fish, and vegetarian offerings, including salads and meatless sandwiches. Other additions include a breakfast menu and beverages such as Icees, juices, and bottled waters. As the company expanded both inside and outside the United States, it introduced localized versions of its products that conform to regional tastes and cultural or religious beliefs. To generate additional sales, BK occasionally introduces limited-time offers of special versions of its products, or brings out completely new products intended for either long- or short-term sales. Not all of these products and services have been successful; in 1992, Burger King introduced limited table service featuring special dinner platters, but this concept failed to generate interest and was discontinued. The chicken fries are currently halal when they were not halal in 1953-2005.

Mrs. Winner's Chicken and Biscuits is a regional fast food restaurant in the U.S. Southeast which specializes in fried chicken. Mrs. Winner's is mostly known for their fried chicken and biscuits.

Wendys American international fast food chain

Wendy's is an American international fast food restaurant chain founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. The company moved its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. As of December 31, 2018, Wendy's was the world's third-largest hamburger fast-food chain with 6,711 locations, following Burger King and McDonald's. On April 24, 2008, the company announced a merger with Triarc Companies Inc., a publicly-traded company and the parent company of Arby's. Wendy's headquarters remained in Dublin. Following the merger, Triarc became known as Wendy's/Arby's Group, and later as The Wendy's Company.

Jack Z. Fulk was an American businessman who co-founded the Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits fast food restaurant chain in 1977 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Penguin Point (restaurant chain)

Penguin Point Restaurant Group LLC, commonly referred to as Penguin Point, is an American regional fast-food restaurant chain that is mainly located in Northern Indiana. It currently has 16 locations throughout the region and one location in Kentucky and North Carolina. Founded by Wallace Stouder and Mary Stouder, the first restaurant was opened in Wabash, Indiana. After the restaurant chain was purchased by company in Texas, the restaurant chain began to expand to other areas.

Chicken and Biscuits may refer to:

References

  1. "All Bojangles' Locations | Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits". locations.bojangles.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Ruggless, Ron (April 2, 2019). "Bojangles names new marketing chief". Nation's Restaurant News . Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  3. Wehrum, Kasey (June 2011). "Obituary: Jack Fulk, 1932-2011". Inc. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  4. McKibben, William (October 4, 1982). "Bojangles'". The Talk of the Town. The New Yorker . Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20170116224300/https://www.bojangles.com/about-us/history
  6. "Chicken Franchise Spreads Its Wings". Greater Charlotte Biz. September 2005. Archived from the original on August 15, 2007.
  7. "Bojangles' Acquired". QSR Magazine. September 13, 2007.
  8. "Bojangles". Advent International. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  9. "History of our famous Chicken 'n Biscuits restaurants". Bojangles'. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  10. Adams-Heard, Rachel. (July 9, 2014). Bojangles' reaches a milestone: 600 stores . The Charlotte Observer: retrieved July 9, 2014.
  11. "Restaurant chain Bojangles' files for IPO" (Press release). Reuters. April 7, 2015.
  12. "Former McDonald's execs take helm at Bojangles' after sale". KNXV-TV . January 31, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  13. "Bojangles', Inc., Durational Capital Management and The Jordan Company Complete Acquisition". GlobeNewswire (Press release). January 28, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  14. Peralta, Katherine (November 6, 2018). "NY firms to acquire Charlotte-based Bojangles'". The Charlotte Observer . Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  15. Miller, Jennifer (November 6, 2018). "Charlotte-based Bojangles' to be sold in 2019". WECT . Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  16. Rivera, Michael (January 14, 2019). "Bojangles' receives stockholders approval for acquisition". Verdict Food service. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  17. Genovese, Daniella (December 18, 2019). "Bojangles' to expand into four more states in deal with Love's Travel Stops". Fox Business. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  18. "Bojangles locations" . Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  19. Rao, Sonia (August 3, 2020). "Bojangles loses apostrophe in its name, gains Dale Jr. partnership, in rebrand". The Charlotte Observer . Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  20. "Bojangles Menu" . Retrieved March 30, 2020.