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. ”.
High Bluff is an investment firm that bought fast food chains Quiznos and Taco Del Mar in 2018 to build its restaurant platform, Rego Restaurant Group. 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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A lot of people love Church’s Chicken because of their tasty fried chicken and classic sides like mashed potatoes and biscuits. The brand has a long history that goes back to 1952, when George W. started it in San Antonio, Texas. Church Sr. But over the years, Church’s Chicken has had many different owners, just like many other well-known restaurant chains. We will learn more about the people who have owned Church’s Chicken over the years in this article.
A Local Start Leads to Rapid National Expansion
Back in 1952, Church’s Chicken began as a single San Antonio take-out spot. Church Sr. until his death in 1956, he owned and ran the first business across from the Alamo. At that point, his family took over the small chain, which by 1962 had grown to include 8 restaurants in the area.
In the mid-1960s, Church’s started franchising and growing across the country, led by Church Sr. ‘s son Bill Church Jr. In 1968, there were more than 100 Church’s Chicken restaurants in seven states. This made it the first big fast food chain outside of Texas. The chain continued to grow quickly across the U.S. through both acquisitions and natural growth. 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
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?
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. Al Copeland Enterprises bought Church’s Chicken in 1989. At the time, it was the second-largest chicken chain in the country. This merger made the combined entity the second-largest chicken restaurant chain in the US, with over 2,000 locations.