Mia Patel
Church's Chicken and Popeyes are two popular fried chicken fast-food chains. Despite being competitors, the two companies were once owned by the same parent company. In 1989, Popeyes owner Al Copeland reached an agreement to buy Church's Chicken for $395.4 million, bringing the two chains under the same ownership. However, in 2004, the parent company, AFC Enterprises Inc., sold Church's Chicken, and the two brands are no longer affiliated. Today, Church's Chicken is owned by High Bluff Capital Partners, while Popeyes is owned by its parent company, AFC Enterprises, Inc.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current owner of Church's Chicken | High Bluff Capital Partners |
| Previous owner of Church's Chicken | AFC Enterprises, Inc. |
| Year Church's Chicken was previously sold | 2004 |
| Previous owner of Church's Chicken before 2004 | Popeyes |
| Year Church's Chicken was bought by Popeyes | 1989 |
| Amount paid by Popeyes to buy Church's Chicken | $330 million |
| Number of Church's Chicken restaurants at the time of merger | 1,478 |
| Number of Popeyes restaurants at the time of merger | 703 |
| Number of Church's Chicken restaurants to be closed after merger | 250 |
| Number of Church's Chicken restaurants to be kept after merger | 92 |
| Number of Church's Chicken restaurants to be renamed as Popeyes after merger | 303 |
| Number of Church's Chicken restaurants to be sold after merger | 440 |
| Value of Church's Chicken at the time of previous sale | $395.4 million |
| Current owner of Popeyes | AFC Enterprises, Inc. |
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What You'll Learn
Church's Chicken was bought by Popeyes in 1989
Church's Chicken and Popeyes are two popular fast-food fried chicken chains. In 1989, these two restaurants, which operated separately, united under the same ownership. This came about when Al Copeland, the founder of Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken, successfully engineered a bid to buy out Church's Chicken for $395.4 million, although another source states the deal was worth about $330 million.
The merger of the two companies created a powerful force in the fast-food fried chicken market. Combined, they had total sales of $1 billion the previous year, although this was still less than half of KFC's sales, which stood at $4.9 billion. Following the buyout, it was agreed that some Church's restaurants would be closed, others would keep the Church's name, some would be renamed as Popeyes, and the rest would be sold.
The partnership between Church's Chicken and Popeyes lasted for 15 years. In 2004, the parent company of the two chains, AFC Enterprises, Inc., sold Church's Chicken to a venture capital firm. This was because the two brands were beginning to encroach on each other, and AFC decided to concentrate on its Popeyes brand. Church's Chicken has since changed hands several times, most recently being acquired by High Bluff Capital Partners in 2021.
The acquisition of Church's Chicken by Popeyes in 1989 was a significant event in the history of both companies. It created a strong second-largest player in the fast-food fried chicken market, which was previously dominated by KFC. Despite the eventual separation of the two chains, the merger had a lasting impact on the industry and demonstrated the power of consolidation in the highly competitive fast-food market.
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They were owned by the same company for 15 years
Church's Chicken and Popeyes were owned by the same company for 15 years. In 1989, Popeyes owner Al Copeland reached an agreement to buy Church's Chicken for $395.4 million, though one source states the figure was around $330 million. This merger created the second-largest fried chicken chain in the United States, behind KFC.
The buyout ended a four-month dispute that saw Church's take Popeyes to court, sell 120 unprofitable restaurants, and put itself up for auction to avoid the takeover. Despite the merger, the two restaurants operated separately. During this time, they had combined sales of $1 billion, though this was still less than KFC's $4.9 billion.
In 2004, the parent company, AFC Enterprises Inc., decided to sell Church's Chicken to a venture capital firm. The two brands were no longer compatible operations for AFC, as they were beginning to encroach on each other. AFC wanted to concentrate on one of its two chicken brands and elected to focus on Popeyes.
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Popeyes' parent company sued Church's over a franchise deal
In 1989, Church's Chicken and Popeyes, the two biggest fried chicken chains in the US after KFC, united under the same parent company, AFC Enterprises Inc. However, in 2004, AFC sold Church's to a private equity firm, Arcapita Inc. (formerly Crescent Capital Investments).
In 2024, Popeyes' parent company sued Church's over a franchise deal. The 1,876-unit Popeyes sought more than $20 million in damages, alleging that a former Popeyes franchisee intended to harm the Popeyes brand by selling its restaurants to Church's. Church's Chicken, the 1,600-unit quick-service operator also based in Atlanta, said it had acquired the 10 Popeyes units as part of its strategy to appeal to the growing Hispanic market. The company planned to convert six of the restaurants into company-owned Church's units.
"Popeyes welcomes honest competition," said Ken Keymer, chief executive of AFC Enterprises, "But when a competitor instead chooses egregious acts with the intent to harm another's brand, we are compelled to respond. Having been in the franchising industry for over 25 years, I have never witnessed such outrageous actions by a franchising company."
As of 2021, Popeyes has 3,705 restaurants in more than 46 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 30 countries worldwide. About 50 locations are company-owned, while the other 98% are franchised. Popeyes is currently a subsidiary of Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International.
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Church's Chicken was acquired by High Bluff Capital Partners
Church's Chicken and Popeyes are not owned by the same company. In fact, the two fried chicken chains have a history of attempting takeovers of one another. In 1989, Popeyes, then owned by Al Copeland, acquired Church's Chicken for $395.4 million. However, in 2004, Church's Chicken was sold to a venture capital firm, ending the 15-year partnership between the two companies.
Church's Chicken has since been acquired by High Bluff Capital Partners, adding the chain to its REGO Restaurant Group platform. This acquisition brings Church's Chicken into the same portfolio as sub chain Quiznos and Mexican concept Taco Del Mar. High Bluff Capital Partners plans to invest in Church's Chicken's physical assets and technology, bringing innovative menu offerings and improving the tech platform and point-of-sale system. The company aims to take advantage of the international success of Church's Chicken and its strong customer loyalty to drive growth and compete with other chicken chains such as KFC and Popeyes.
The acquisition of Church's Chicken by High Bluff Capital Partners is part of the company's strategy to diversify its portfolio and scale its business. With Church's Chicken under its ownership, High Bluff Capital Partners gains access to a well-performing brand with strong international business and a loyal customer base. By investing in physical assets and technology, High Bluff Capital Partners aims to energize the customer base and bring new innovations to the market.
The acquisition also allows High Bluff Capital Partners to leverage the strengths of Church's Chicken, including its international presence and unique Texas-style chicken offerings. With the acquisition, the company gains access to Church's Chicken's more than 1,500 locations in 25 countries and territories. This expansion will enable High Bluff Capital Partners to compete with other chicken chains and bring new flavors and products to its customers.
In conclusion, Church's Chicken and Popeyes have a complex history of ownership and acquisitions. While they were once owned by the same company following Popeyes' takeover of Church's Chicken in 1989, they are no longer affiliated as Church's Chicken has since changed ownership multiple times, most recently being acquired by High Bluff Capital Partners. This acquisition is expected to bring new growth and innovations to the Church's Chicken brand.
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Popeyes and Church's Chicken have shared buildings
In 1989, Church's Chicken and Popeyes, the second and third-largest fried chicken chains in the US, respectively, united under the same ownership. This came after a four-month dispute that saw Church's take Popeyes to court, sell 120 unprofitable restaurants, and put itself up for auction to avoid the takeover. The agreement called for Popeyes owner Al Copeland to buy up to 30.1 million shares, or about 86.5% of Church's outstanding shares, for $11 per share, totalling $330 million.
The two restaurants operated separately but shared the same parent company, AFC Enterprises Inc. However, in 2004, the partnership ended when AFC sold Church's Chicken to a venture capital firm, as the two chains were beginning to encroach on each other. At the time, Church's had 1,478 restaurants, while Popeyes had 703.
Today, Church's Chicken is owned by High Bluff Capital Partners, which acquired the chain in 2021. The chain has more than 1,500 locations in 25 countries and territories, with 80% of the units being franchised operations.
While it is not common for Popeyes and Church's Chicken to share buildings, it is not unheard of for different fast-food chains to be housed in the same building. For example, KFC and Taco Bell, or Long John Silvers and A&W, were once owned by the same company, Yum! Brands, and fans of Church's Chicken and White Castle will also find a few locations where both brands share a building.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Church's Chicken and Popeyes were owned by the same company from 1989 to 2004. In 2004, the parent company, AFC Enterprises Inc., sold Church's Chicken to a venture capital firm. As of 2024, Church's Chicken is owned by High Bluff Capital Partners.
Popeyes is owned by AFC Enterprises Inc. The company also owns the Cinnabon chain and previously owned Seattle Coffee Co.
As of 2024, Church's Chicken is owned by High Bluff Capital Partners, which acquired the company in 2021. Church's Chicken has been under the same ownership since 2009.
By 2004, Church's Chicken and Popeyes were no longer compatible operations for AFC, as the two chains began to encroach on one another. AFC decided to concentrate on one of its two chicken brands and elected to sell Church's Chicken.
