Known for flavorful chicken and a robust all-day breakfast menu, Bojangles has become a quick-service staple throughout the Southeast. Since its founding more than 40 years ago, the roughly 750-unit North Carolina-based chain has built a loyal following of fans and a strong franchising team. Currently, the legacy brand is expanding and seeks qualified franchisees to help develop markets in the Midwest and Northeast and expand its footprint in the Southeast, or—with the right partners—international markets.

Though Bojangles has franchised stores for much of its history, the company is focusing on refreshing the brand throughout 2020. Jose Costa, chief development officer of Bojangles, says the chain will draw on its strong foundation to roll out changes in the way the brand delivers its food, experience, and culture to attract new fans.

“We are introducing new menu items and new customer services that appeal to the next generation of Bojangles fans,” Costa says. “Our look will be more modern, and our locations will fit the local market demographics we are looking to grow and develop. We have set menu items that will be at every Bojangles, but as we grow, we understand it is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and we will be a partner to franchisees during the entire process.”

Bojangles offers what Costa calls a “high-tech and high-touch” approach to support franchise owners. All franchise partners complete 26 weeks of training in stores and at the brand’s Bo University training facility. Franchise business directors coach operators both in brand standards and optimizing restaurant profitability, while the brand tracks key performance metrics throughout the chain to identify opportunities for improvement. Bojangles also provides real estate, construction, POS, and marketing support as partners grow their businesses.

“Bojangles has a world-class team and best in class AUVs for franchisees,” Costa says. “From mouth-watering flavors to exceptional training, we provide franchisees with everything needed to keep their customers coming back for more.”

Yet it’s Bojangles’ menu mix that stands out in a crowded market and helps make franchisees successful. Costa says the brand commands strong sales during all three dayparts, which he calls an advantage for franchisees. With flavorful, Southern-style recipes, all-day breakfast, and staples like “fresh, never frozen” chicken, scratch-made biscuits, and Legendary Iced Tea®, it’s no wonder diners return to the brand time and time again.

“We have been leading breakfast for more than 40 years—in fact, 37 percent of our sales happen before other chicken concepts open their doors,” Costa says. “For lunch, we provide a fresh, friendly option that features all the Southern flavors our fans love. At dinner time, we have the family favorites that turn dinnertime into an experience—from the popular Big Bo Box® to family dinners to all the fixin’s that make the meal complete. And at snack time, our kids meals, sweets, and snack-sized combos are perfect on the go. Of course, our Legendary Iced Tea drives fans to our doors throughout the day.”

Meanwhile, Costa says Bojangles also studies consumer behavior to determine the most efficient layouts that help enhance drive-thru performance while occupying “smaller, more efficient real estate locations that allow for better unit economics.”

To help the brand reach its next phase of growth, Bojangles is seeking hands-on operators who will look at all aspects of the business. Ideal candidates will already manage a multi-unit portfolio and help build on the group knowledge of the franchise business while leveraging outlined best practices and adding their own style of leadership, community involvement, and business engagement.

“Bojangles is real,” Costa says. “It’s the real-deal Southern flavor that our fans love. It’s the real connection our fans have with Bojangles as an enduring part of their lives. It’s also the real commitment and passion our franchisees have for the Bojangles brand. And it’s the real opportunity we have for growth in the future as we grow beyond our Southern heritage.”

To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit the Bojangles website.