Quick-service chain Church’s Chicken has agreed to be purchased by the parent of Quiznos and Taco Del Mar, the companies announced Monday.
High Bluff Capital Partners said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Atlanta-based chain, which had been owned by FFL Partners. The deal is expected to be completed during the third quarter.
Church’s has more than 1,500 restaurants in 26 countries and is expected to open more than 100 new stores in the next year, the company said.
“The past few years have been all about growth for the brand and its franchisees,” Christina said. “Our focus will be to deliver against our strategic plan with new locations in the U. S. and internationally and continued profitable sales growth. ”.
Investment firm High Bluff created Rego Restaurant Group, its restaurant platform, in 2018, when it acquired fast casuals Quiznos and Taco Del Mar. As sales of its Quiznos brand drop, the company has been testing ghost kitchens to see if they can bring them back.
Church’s 2020 sales were down 14. Eight percent from 2019 to 2020, and the chain’s unit count dropped almost 10% during that time, according to data from Technomic, a sister company of Restaurant Business.
“At a time when the entire restaurant industry has faced unprecedented challenges, Church’s has stood out as a notable bright spot, having emerged from the pandemic with considerable tailwinds that strongly position the brand for tremendous growth geographically as well as in the overall chicken category,” said Anand Gowda, High Bluff’s founder, in a statement. “Our investment strategy continues to center on identifying brands with long-term connections to consumers that can be energized and propelled to greater success through targeted industry expertise, operational efficiencies, innovation and creative brand management. ”.
Church’s was founded nearly 70 years ago in San Antonio. It is known for serving original and spicy fried chicken, as well as tenders and honey-butter biscuits. Internationally, the brand operates as Texas Chicken.
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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
For $330 million in 1989, the parent company of Popeyes, another chicken chain, bought Church’s Chicken. The plan was to combine the two brands into one big business 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
The private equity firm Friedman Fleischer went public in 2009. This started a new era of ownership that was all about updating systems and menus and making franchising programs better. But over the next ten years, Church’s continued to have problems, such as falling sales and closing stores.
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
After a long and winding road, Church’s Chicken is now owned by new people who want to bring the famous chicken brand up to date and bring it back to life. As Church’s tries to attract a new generation of fried chicken fans, fans can expect new menu items, new restaurant layouts, and better technology in the coming years.
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?
In a lawsuit, KFC said that starting on September 30, it saw that Church’s “abruptly” started using the phrase and didn’t respond to KFC’s letter of October 24 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?
Dave’s Hot Chicken is owned by Roark Capital, the same private equity firm that owns Subway. They acquired the company in a $1 billion deal in June 2025. While Roark Capital is now the majority owner, the original founders, Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan, still retain some ownership and are involved in the business.
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.