| Church's Chicken | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Private |
| Founded | 17 April 1952 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, GA |
| Key people | Leonard L. Church, Sr. (Founder) Hala Moddelmog |
| Industry | Food |
| Products | Fast food, including fried chicken, french fries, and biscuits |
| Website | http://www.churchs.com |
Church's Chicken is a U.S. chain of fast food restaurants specializing in fried chicken. The chain was founded as Church's Fried Chicken To Go by Leonard L. Church, Sr. on April 17, 1952 in San Antonio, across the street from The Alamo. The company now has more than 1,600 locations worldwide.
History
Initially the restaurant only sold chicken but french fries and jalapeños were later added. The company had four restaurants when George W. Church died in 1956. Following Leonard Sr.s death, his son Leonard L. Church Jr. took control of the company. By 1962 his family had expanded the company to eight restaurants. Rapid growth followed, and Church's became the second-largest chicken restaurant chain in 1989, when it merged with Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits. The brands had their supply lines consolidated but were still marketed as separate chains. Hala Moddelmog was appointed as president of Church's Chicken in 1996, making her the first female president of a fast-food restaurant. Church's was owned by AFC Enterprises, along with Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Cinnabon through the end of 2004, when it was sold to Arcapita (formerly Crescent Capital Investments). Because Arcapita is an Islamic venture capital firm, bacon was removed from the menu after the sale (pork not being halal). Church's Chicken began a corporate partnership with the Children's Miracle Network in the summer of 2004. In some areas Church's is franchised to the White Castle hamburger chain. In Canada, Church's Chicken items were once available in Harvey's restaurants, but the co-venture was discontinued. Currently, Church's Chicken has locations in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Other international operations include a very successful franchise in Puerto Rico. There are over 70 restaurants, making it one the top three largest chains on the island.
