Church’s Texas Chicken, a global chicken quick service restaurant (QSR) brand with more than 1,500 restaurants across the U.S. and 25+ international markets, announced a strategic growth equity investment from Golub Capital. The investment provides Church’s with new capital to accelerate its next phase of its growth, building on several years of brand transformation, operational improvement and record-setting performance across the system.
“We’ve spent the last several years rebuilding the foundation of this brand, strengthening our operations, investing in our franchisees, and reconnecting with the communities that have trusted Church’s since its inception,” Roland Gonzalez, CEO of Church’s Texas Chicken, said. “We don’t just want to feed the communities we serve; we want to be an integral part of them. That work is paying off: we’re posting record sales, our franchisees are seeing stronger returns than ever, and we’re winning in a category where many of our competitors are struggling. This investment from Golub Capital is a vote of confidence in our future and an opportunity to go bigger and even faster in ways that benefit the entire system as restaurants and remodels are expected to drive higher system-wide sales, grow national advertising dollars and continue to elevate overall brand positioning.”
Church’s is now investing in growth the way it invested in the turnaround, starting with the recruitment of industry veteran Bobby Morena as chief development officer to lead U.S. expansion. Morena spent more than 15 years at Jimmy John’s, where he helped grow the brand from roughly 45 restaurants to 2,700+ and sold over 4,000 franchise commitments, before serving in senior development roles at GoTo Foods and other brands across the Inspire Brands portfolio. Since joining Church’s, he has built a development team focused on disciplined, data-driven site selection and market planning to guide the brand’s next phase of unit growth.
Internationally, the brand is led by Tim Waddell, executive vice president of international and an industry veteran, under whose leadership Church’s has consistently opened 60 to 70 new restaurants per year and built a development pipeline of more than 1,500 committed units. The brand is supported by exceptional, well-capitalized franchisees across the Americas, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East.
With a stronger operational foundation now in place, Church’s plans to use Golub Capital’s investment to support several areas of continued focus, including:
- Expand the company’s restaurant remodel program, which has consistently delivered strong sales increases and attractive returns
- Accelerate new company-operated restaurant openings, including in markets where Church’s has a proven track record of success, such as its recent reentry into the Philadelphia market
- Continue investing in initiatives that support brand and franchisee growth
These investments will benefit the system as remodels and new restaurants drive higher systemwide sales, growing national advertising dollars and continuing to improve brand depth and perception nationally.
This transaction marks the second time Golub Capital has provided financing to Church’s since 2024.
“This investment represents another milestone in Golub Capital’s longstanding relationship with Church’s,” Greg Cashman, vice chair of Golub Capital and co-head of the firm’s sponsor finance business, said. “Over the course of that relationship, we have seen the team strengthen the business. We take pride in developing durable partnerships with private equity sponsors, management teams and the businesses they support, and we are pleased to invest in this next phase of Church’s growth.”
