Bojangles is taking the show (chicken) on the road, and expanding operations to states outside of their southern roots, looking to go nationwide.
The chicken-based chain has primarily been based in the southeastern United States, and now they’re outlining plans to take the chain outside of their comfort zone.
This past summer, Bojangles announced a plan to bring 20 Bojangles locations to Las Vegas and even more to Ohio. They also penned a deal to open locations in Chicago, as well as 10 restaurants across NJ (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex and Union counties). They have further plans to open 10 more in TravelCenters of America’s Western market.
There isn’t an estimated date on when Bojangles will be opening in these states but Bojangles CEO Jose Armario said in a statement last August that:
“This expansion represents an incredible opportunity to share Bojangles with the Las Vegas community. The city’s energy and unparalleled entertainment aligns with our brand’s commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences.”
In regards to “changing preferences”, is the sentiment that bone-in chicken has seen a decline in popularity. Bojangles, like many other fast food chains are attacking the boneless chicken market in response to a declining appetite for bone-in chicken…instead, concentrating on other chicken fare like tenders, wraps, and chicken sandwiches.
A few months ago, a representative spoke to QSR about their expansion plan:
“We must approach our [expansion] strategies more thoughtfully as we continue to grow outside of the Southeast and adapt to consumers’ changing preferences.”
Bojangles is currently in 17 states with approximately 800 locations under their belt. They’ve added about 42 more locations in recent times, and expect that number to grow over the next few years.
Like Bojangles, another chain…Jack In The Box has plans to widen their footprint with over 120 locations scheduled to open in states new to them like Montana, Wyoming, Florida, and Arkansas. JITB is more of a burger-based chain but also has chicken on the menu like Bojangles.
