Bojangles
Bojangles is a U.S. regional quick-service restaurant chain known for Cajun-seasoned fried chicken, made-from-scratch-style buttermilk biscuits, and Southern-inspired side dishes.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Bojangles is an American regional quick-service restaurant brand specializing in Cajun-seasoned fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, breakfast biscuit sandwiches, and Southern-style side dishes. The chain was founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 6, 1977, by Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas. Its initial identity combined a distinctive chicken seasoning profile with an all-day menu and a strong association with the Carolinas and the broader Southeastern United States. The business was originally known as Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits and dropped the apostrophe from its public-facing name in 2020. The company began franchising in 1978. In 1981, Fulk sold the concept to Horn & Hardart, a New York-based food-service company that was later dissolved. During Horn & Hardart's ownership, Bojangles expanded rapidly, reaching 335 restaurants and broadening its footprint through acquisitions including Judy Judy Judy's in 1982 and the Florida-based Biskits chain in 1984. The brand became particularly associated with the Carolinas after keeping restaurants open during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, when many other fast-food businesses in the affected area closed. Ownership changed several times as Bojangles grew. In 1990, Horn & Hardart sold most of its interest to Sienna Partners and InterWest Partners. The company was led during part of this period by Dick Campbell, a former KFC executive, and later by Jim Peterson after an attempted public offering in 1994. In 1998, a group led by former Wendy's executive Joe Drury acquired the business with financing from FMAC. Bojangles continued expanding through the 1990s and 2000s, opening its 300th restaurant in 2003, entering the college-campus channel in 2005, and opening its first airport restaurant at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2008. Private-equity ownership became a recurring feature of the brand's corporate history. Falfurrias Capital Partners purchased Bojangles in 2007 and sold it to Advent International in 2011 after a competitive bidding process. During Advent's ownership, the chain expanded its restaurant base, sponsored NASCAR events, and opened its 600th location in Charlotte in 2014. Bojangles filed for an initial public offering in 2015 and expected to raise approximately $372 million, but the company was subsequently acquired and taken private in January 2019 by The Jordan Company and Durational Capital Management. Existing shareholders received $16.10 per share following approval of the transaction. Bojangles' core menu remains centered on breakfast biscuits, bone-in fried chicken, chicken tenders, sandwiches, and sides marketed as Fixin's. Signature items include the Cajun Chicken Filet Biscuit, Chicken Supremes, Bo-Berry Biscuit, Bo-Tato Rounds, Cajun Pintos, dirty rice, macaroni and cheese, grits, and sweet-potato fried pies. The chain serves its full menu throughout the day, helping it compete across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack occasions. It has also introduced limited-time and newer offerings such as the Bo's Bird Dog and bone-in wings. The brand primarily serves the Southeastern United States, with North Carolina historically representing its largest concentration of restaurants. It has expanded into additional states through company development, franchising, and nontraditional venues such as airports, college campuses, and travel centers. A 2019 agreement with Love's Travel Stops called for 40 restaurants in travel-center locations across several states over a ten-year period. Later expansion announcements targeted Ohio, New Jersey, Nevada, Arizona, Southern California, and Colorado. The chain has also had a location in Honduras and previously franchised restaurants in several international markets, including Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Mexico, and China. Bojangles' competitive positioning is built around regional authenticity, Southern comfort food, distinctive seasoning, recognizable biscuit products, and a franchise-led growth model.
History
Bojangles was established in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 6, 1977, by Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas. The founders developed a restaurant concept focused on Cajun-seasoned fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits, with a menu broad enough to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The first franchise restaurant began operating in 1978, establishing franchising as an important part of the chain's development. In 1981, Fulk sold the Bojangles concept to Horn & Hardart, a New York food-service company. Under that ownership, the chain expanded quickly and reached approximately 335 restaurants, including a substantial presence in Florida. Horn & Hardart also supported growth through acquisitions, purchasing Judy Judy Judy's in 1982 and the Florida-based Biskits chain in 1984. Bojangles gained unusual regional visibility in 1989 when its restaurants remained open during Hurricane Hugo in the Carolinas, while many competing fast-food restaurants closed because of the storm. Horn & Hardart sold most of its interest in 1990 to Sienna Partners and InterWest Partners. Dick Campbell, a former KFC executive, led the company during part of this period. Bojangles attempted a public offering in 1994, after which Campbell was replaced by Jim Peterson as chief executive. In 1998, a group of investors headed by former Wendy's executive Joe Drury acquired the company, with financing from FMAC. The chain continued to expand in the 1990s and 2000s. Its 300th restaurant opened in 2003. In 2005, Bojangles entered the college-campus channel with a location at Central Piedmont Community College. The company also acquired naming rights connected with Charlotte's original Coliseum on Independence Boulevard, a venue later known as Bojangles Coliseum. In 2007, private-equity firm Falfurrias Capital Partners purchased the brand. Bojangles opened its first airport location at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2008. In August 2011, Falfurrias sold Bojangles to Advent International after a competitive investment process. During Advent's ownership, the brand developed its sports and event marketing profile. In 2012, it began sponsoring the NASCAR race known as the Bojangles' Southern 500 and opened another college-campus restaurant at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The 600th restaurant opened in Charlotte on July 8, 2014. The company filed for an IPO in April 2015, but did not remain publicly traded as an independent company. Management changed in 2019, when Randy Kibler was replaced as chief executive by Jose Armario. Brian Unger joined as chief operating officer. On January 28, 2019, The Jordan Company and Durational Capital Management acquired Bojangles, returning it to private ownership. Shareholders approved the transaction earlier that month and received $16.10 per share. Bojangles pursued additional distribution and geographic growth after the take-private transaction. In December 2019, it reached an agreement with Love's Travel Stops to add 40 restaurants at travel centers in Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi over the subsequent decade. In 2020, the company removed the apostrophe from its name, changing its public identity from Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits to Bojangles, and announced a partnership with Dale Earnhardt Jr. The brand subsequently announced expansion plans for Ohio in 2021, New Jersey in 2022, Las Vegas in 2023, and Phoenix and Southern California in 2024. It opened its first Colorado restaurant in Pueblo in 2025 and its first Michigan restaurant in Wyoming, Michigan, in 2026. Bojangles' current brand identity remains closely connected to the American Southeast, especially North Carolina. Its restaurants serve Cajun-seasoned bone-in chicken, chicken tenders, biscuit sandwiches, breakfast items, fries, beans, rice, grits, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and other Southern-style sides. The company has also operated or franchised restaurants outside the mainland Southeast, including a location in Honduras and earlier ventures in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Mexico, and China.
- 2020
Brand name changes to Bojangles
[1]The company drops the apostrophe from its public-facing name.
- 2019
Bojangles returns to private ownership
[1]The Jordan Company and Durational Capital Management acquire the chain.
- 2014
600th restaurant opens
[1]The 600th location opens on Galleria Road in Charlotte.
- 2008
First airport location opens
[1]Bojangles opens its first airport restaurant at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
- 2003
300th restaurant opens
[1]The chain reaches 300 restaurants.
- 1989
Restaurants remain open during Hurricane Hugo
[1]Bojangles gains regional attention after keeping restaurants open during the hurricane in the Carolinas.
- 1981
Concept sold to Horn & Hardart
[1]Jack Fulk sells the Bojangles concept to Horn & Hardart.
- 1978
First franchise begins operations
[1]Bojangles begins franchised restaurant operations, creating a foundation for later geographic growth.
- 1977
Bojangles is founded in Charlotte
[1]Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas establish the restaurant chain in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 6.
Products and positioning
A regional Southern quick-service restaurant centered on Cajun-seasoned fried chicken, biscuits, breakfast served throughout the day, and comfort-food sides. The brand emphasizes Carolina roots, distinctive flavor, value-oriented meal occasions, and expansion through franchised and nontraditional locations.
Breakfast biscuit sandwich
Cajun Chicken Filet Biscuit
A signature breakfast sandwich pairing a Cajun-seasoned chicken filet with a buttermilk biscuit. It represents the brand's combination of Southern biscuit tradition and spiced fried-chicken flavor, and is one of the chain's defining breakfast products.
Fried chicken · 1977
Bojangles Fried Chicken
Bone-in fried chicken seasoned in the chain's Cajun-influenced style. It is the central lunch and dinner offering and is commonly sold in individual, combo, and family-meal formats with a selection of Southern-style sides.
Chicken tenders
Chicken Supremes
Boneless chicken tenders served with dipping sauces. Chicken Supremes extend the brand's chicken platform beyond bone-in pieces and are used in meals, snack occasions, and newer menu constructions such as Bo's Bird Dog.
Dessert biscuit
Bo-Berry Biscuit
A sweet biscuit containing blueberries and finished with a sugar glaze. The product is a recognizable dessert and snack item that differentiates Bojangles from conventional savory-only chicken restaurants.
Chicken sandwich · 2024
Bo's Bird Dog
Introduced in 2024, Bo's Bird Dog places a Chicken Supreme in a toasted hot-dog-style bun. The item adapts an existing chicken product into a portable sandwich format and broadens the chain's limited-time and innovation menu.
Chicken wings · 2024
Bone-in Wings
A 2024 menu addition consisting of bone-in wings offered in plain, Creamy Buffalo, and barbecue flavors. The product gives the brand a shareable and sports-oriented chicken option alongside its established fried-chicken meals.
Side dishes
Fixin's
Bojangles' group of Southern-inspired side dishes includes French fries, Cajun-seasoned pinto beans, dirty rice, Bo-Tato Rounds, coleslaw, green beans, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and grits. These sides are a core part of the meal architecture rather than optional garnishes.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Dale Earnhardt Jr. partnership
United States
Bojangles announced a partnership with NASCAR personality Dale Earnhardt Jr. as part of the public launch of its simplified Bojangles name.
Outcome. The partnership extended the brand's motorsports-oriented marketing and was used to introduce the phrase associated with its Bo Time advertising.
- 2012Bojangles' Southern 500 sponsorship
United States
Bojangles began sponsoring the NASCAR race known as the Bojangles' Southern 500, linking the brand to a major motorsports event with strong ties to the American Southeast.
Outcome. The sponsorship reinforced the chain's regional Southern identity and association with NASCAR audiences.
- Sports and regional sponsorships
United States
Bojangles has sponsored or maintained promotional relationships connected with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Carolina Panthers, NASCAR, and WWE.
Brand decisions
2024
Launch of Bo's Bird Dog and bone-in wingsProduct launchBackground
Bojangles continued to broaden its chicken portfolio beyond its traditional biscuit sandwiches and bone-in meals.
Action taken
The chain introduced Bo's Bird Dog in April and added bone-in wings in August in plain, Creamy Buffalo, and barbecue flavors.
Aftermath
The launches added portable and shareable chicken formats to the menu.
2020
Removal of apostrophe from the brand nameStrategyBackground
The chain had long used the name Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits.
Action taken
The company announced that it would use Bojangles without the apostrophe as its public-facing name.
Aftermath
The simplified name became the brand's current identity while the menu continued to emphasize chicken and biscuits.
2019
Acquisition by The Jordan Company and Durational Capital ManagementM&ABackground
Bojangles was operating as a publicly traded restaurant company when private-equity buyers proposed an acquisition.
Action taken
The Jordan Company and Durational Capital Management acquired the company, taking it private after shareholder approval.
Aftermath
Shareholders received $16.10 per share, and Bojangles continued operating as a privately held restaurant chain.
Per-share acquisition consideration. $16.10 per share (2019)
2019
Love's Travel Stops development agreementStrategyBackground
Bojangles sought additional growth through nontraditional venues and new-state entry.
Action taken
The company agreed with Love's Travel Stops to add 40 Bojangles locations at travel centers in Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi over ten years.
Aftermath
The agreement provided a route into new or underdeveloped markets and expanded the brand's travel-center presence.
2015
Pursuit of an initial public offeringStrategyBackground
Bojangles filed with U.S. regulators for an IPO while expanding its restaurant base and public growth profile.
Action taken
The company indicated an expected offering value of approximately $372 million.
Aftermath
The chain was later acquired and taken private in 2019 rather than continuing as an independent publicly traded company.
Expected IPO proceeds. (2015)
Recent events
Bojangles reintroduces Supremes chicken tenders[2]
Reported:
Bojangles reintroduced its Supremes chicken tenders, which had been off the menu. The article reports that a four-piece Supremes Dinner with a side and drink was being offered for $6.69.
Kool-Aid McKinstry announces partnership with Bojangles[2]
Reported:
Alabama football player Kool-Aid McKinstry announced a partnership with Bojangles. The article does not provide further details about the partnership terms.
Bojangles announces two days of store closures[3]
Reported:
Bojangles said it would close all company-owned stores on August 30 and September 13, 2021, giving staff those days off.
Cheerwine launches Uniquely Southern Summer Contest[4]
Reported:
Cheerwine launched the Uniquely Southern Summer Contest, a 10-week promotion offering prizes including Cheerwine, merchandise and summer essentials. Bojangles, Food Lion, QuikTrip and Yeti also participate and offer prizes.
Bojangles refreshes its brand identity[5]
Reported:
Bojangles refreshed its brand image, removed the apostrophe from its name, and rolled out a refreshed logo and new packaging, menu boards and in-store visuals.
Gary Vaynerchuk joins Bojangles board[6]
Reported:
Gary Vaynerchuk joined Bojangles' board and is to work with the chain's leaders to guide its path forward.
Sources6 sources
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