Emily Carter
Church's Chicken is a quick-service restaurant chicken chain that first introduced Chicken & Waffle Bites as a limited-time menu item in 2014. The dish consists of hand-battered chicken Tender Strips and miniature maple-flavored waffles. Due to its popularity, the item was brought back in 2015 and 2018, with the brand expecting an even bigger response. While Church's Chicken has not recently offered chicken and waffles as a menu item, it is not uncommon for the restaurant to bring back popular dishes for a limited time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken & Waffle Bites Availability | Available for a limited time at participating restaurants |
| Chicken & Waffle Bites Consists of | Three juicy, hand-battered, all-white meat Tender Strips and five miniature maple-flavored Waffle Bites |
| Chicken & Waffle Bites Re-appearance Date | June 29, 2015 |
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What You'll Learn
Church's Chicken's history
Church's Chicken, now known as Church's Texas Chicken, was founded in 1952 by George W. Church. The first Church's Fried Chicken To Go was opened in downtown San Antonio, Texas, across the street from the Alamo. At the time, only hot dogs and ice cream were being marketed as fast food, and Church's Fried Chicken was the first to market low-cost, freshly fried chicken as a convenience food. The first restaurant sold only fried chicken, but by 1955, French fries and jalapeño peppers had been added to the menu. By the time of founder George W. Church Sr.'s death in 1956, four stores were in operation.
In 1962, with Church Sr.'s son Bill Church Jr. as top executive, there were eight restaurants in San Antonio. In 1965, Church Jr. and his brother Richard developed a signature marinade that could be prepared at any location, and the company began to expand and franchise. Former vacuum cleaner salesman J. David Bamberger joined Church's Chicken in 1965 to oversee the franchising. In 1967, the chain opened restaurants in five Texan cities outside of San Antonio and operated 17 restaurants by the end of 1968. That same year, the Church family sold the company, which became incorporated and went public in 1969. By the end of 1968, there were more than 100 Church's Chicken restaurants in seven states, making it the first Texas-based chain to become a national one.
Between 1969 and 1974, Church's Chicken gained 387 more restaurants, and in the late 1970s, the chain briefly operated a hamburger franchise in Texas called G.W. Jrs. In the 1970s, Church's Chicken began its international expansion, opening locations in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Puerto Rico. In 1980, Church Jr. resigned as corporation chairman and was replaced by his childhood friend, Roger Harvin.
In March 1996, Hala Moddelmog was appointed president of Church's Chicken, becoming the first female president of a fast-food restaurant chain. In the 1980s, the chain gained popularity in Indonesia under the trade name "Texas Chicken", as the brand name "Church" was not popular in countries with majority non-Christian religions. Locations in Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Philippines were also opened under the "Texas Chicken" name. In February 2008, Church's Chicken entered the UK market, but only a small number of restaurants opened, and they withdrew from the market a few years later.
In 1989, after a hostile takeover attempt by Alvin Copeland of Popeye's Famous Fried Chicken and Biscuits, Church's Chicken became the second-largest chicken restaurant chain when it was acquired by Popeyes for $330 million. In 2017, Church's Chicken announced a multi-year development deal to expand further in the United States. As of 2022, Church's Texas Chicken operates more than 1,500 locations worldwide, including international locations in Bahrain, Belarus, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, St. Lucia, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
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Chicken & Waffle Bites availability
Chicken & Waffle Bites were available at Church's Chicken for a limited time in 2014, 2015, and 2018. They were one of the most popular special menu items of the year in 2014. The meal consists of three Tender Strips and five miniature maple-flavored Waffle Bites.
Chicken & Waffle Bites are not currently listed on the Church's Texas Chicken menu. However, the menu does offer a variety of other chicken options, including 4PC Boneless Wings, Classic Chicken Sandwich, Tender Wraps, and chicken legs and thighs.
The Church's Chicken app allows customers to skip the line when picking up orders or get delivery. The Church's Real Rewards program also offers members rewards and free chicken.
While Church's Chicken no longer appears to offer Chicken & Waffle Bites, Roscoes Chicken does serve chicken and waffles at various locations.
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Church's Chicken's international expansion
Church's Chicken, founded in 1952, began its international expansion in the 1970s, first entering Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Puerto Rico. In the 1980s, the company expanded to Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Philippines, operating under the trade name "Texas Chicken" in these countries with majority non-Christian religions.
In February 2008, Church's Chicken entered the UK market under the same “Texas Chicken" name, but only a small number of restaurants were opened, and the company withdrew from the UK a few years later.
In 2017, Church's Chicken announced a multi-year development deal to open 20 new restaurants per year in several US states. As of 2022, Church's Texas Chicken operates more than 1,500 locations worldwide, with international locations including Bahrain, Belarus, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, St. Lucia, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
The company has recently signed multiple development agreements to continue its international expansion into Europe, including Germany, Hungary, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Morocco, with more than 900 new restaurants planned over the coming years. This marks a significant milestone in the company's growth strategy, as it sets its sights on the UK, France, Italy, and Spain.
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Church's Chicken's menu
Church's Chicken, also known as Church's Texas Chicken, is a fast-food chain with locations across the world. The chain was founded in 1952 by George W. Church in San Antonio, Texas, and has since expanded to 23 countries and territories, with over 1,500 locations worldwide.
The menu at Church's Chicken features a variety of fried chicken options, including sandwiches, meals, tenders, and wraps. Their signature offering includes Original and Spicy Chicken, freshly prepared in small batches and hand-battered, along with Tender Strips®, honey-butter biscuits, and classic, home-style sides.
One of the most popular menu items at Church's Chicken has been Chicken & Waffle Bites, which were introduced in 2014 and reappeared on the menu in 2015 and 2018 for limited periods. This unique offering consists of juicy, hand-battered Tender Strips® paired with miniature maple-flavored Waffle Bites, combining sweet and savory flavors.
In addition to their core menu items, Church's Chicken also offers a range of sides, such as fries and jalapeños, which were added to the menu in 1955. The chain is known for its commitment to quality and has a long-standing "Have the Love™" promise, ensuring that its food is prepared with care.
Church's Chicken has undergone several changes in ownership over the years, including going public in 1969 and appointing the first female president of a fast-food restaurant chain, Hala Moddelmog, in 1996. The chain has also adapted its branding in certain international markets, operating under the name "Texas Chicken" in countries with majority non-Christian religions.
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Church's Chicken's franchise model
Church's Chicken, now known as Church's Texas Chicken in the Americas, is one of the largest quick-service chicken chains worldwide. The company was founded in 1952 by George W. Church Sr., who opened his first restaurant, "Church's Fried Chicken To-Go", in San Antonio, Texas, across from the Alamo. The menu initially only offered fried chicken, but in 1955, Church added jalapeños and fries, later expanding to a range of traditional Southern sides, including mashed potatoes, coleslaw, fried okra, and their famous honey-butter biscuits.
The company began franchising in 1965, and by the end of 1968, there were over 100 Church's Chicken restaurants in seven states, making it the first Texas-based chain to become a national brand. Church's Chicken continued to expand rapidly, gaining 387 more restaurants between 1969 and 1974, and began its international expansion in the 1970s, entering markets such as Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Puerto Rico.
Today, Church's Chicken operates over 1,500 locations in more than 20 countries, with a strong presence in the United States and several international markets. The company offers a range of franchise opportunities, with the total initial investment ranging from $644,366 to $1,808,972, or $805,000 to $1,896,000 according to another source, depending on the location and size of the restaurant. Franchisees are required to pay a royalty fee of 5% of gross sales, as well as an additional 5% for advertising efforts.
Church's Chicken provides comprehensive training and support to its franchisees, covering operational procedures, customer service, marketing, supply chain management, and business development. The company's real estate and site selection experts also conduct in-depth analyses of potential locations to ensure optimal site selection. Church's Chicken is committed to maintaining the quality and consistency of its brand, delivering fresh, flavorful, and hand-crafted meals to its customers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Church's Chicken brought back its Chicken & Waffle Bites for a limited time in 2015 and again in 2018.
The bites consist of three Tender Strips and five miniature maple-flavored Waffle Bites.
Yes, when Chicken & Waffle Bites were first featured in 2014, they were one of the most popular special menu items of the year.
Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952, Church's Chicken is one of the largest quick-service restaurant chicken chains in the world.
If Church's Chicken does not have chicken and waffles, you can try Roscoes Chicken, which has them at various locations.
