Church’s Chicken Sold

High Bluff Capital Partners has struck a deal to acquire Church's Chicken from FFL Partners.

In 2020 the brand leveraged its strengths in family meals, digital offerings, delivery and to-go orders to post system-wide sales of nearly $1.2 billion. Over the next year, the brand expects to expand its already sizable domestic and international presence with the opening of more than 100 new locations, including the roll-out of its highly successful Blaze Image restaurant concept.

Church’s Chicken Expands Third-Party Del

Specializing in equity investments in restaurants and iconic consumer-facing brands, High Bluff established its restaurant platform, REGO Restaurant Group, in 2018 with the acquisitions of toasted sub pioneer Quiznos and Taco Del Mar, a fast-casual restaurant chain offering coastal Mexican cuisine. Since then, the firm has had a transformative impact on both brands – driving significant menu innovation, modernizing marketing and branding, enhancing the guest experience, and delivering best-in-class opportunities to franchisees.

Something to Cluck About

“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, who, prior to founding High Bluff Capital Partners served as President and Managing Partner of Metropoulos & Co. "...We look forward to leveraging our robust platform and working closely with the management team and franchisees to accelerate Church’s positive trajectory.”

Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed during Q3 of 2021. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. 

Based in Atlanta and founded in 1952, Church’s has more than 1,500 locations in 26 countries and international territories.