ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Made possible by an experienced franchise group and an innovative financing partner, Church’s Chicken® is about to undergo a large-scale domestic expansion. The new franchisee, Volunteer Chicken LLC, recently secured the rights to open 10 new restaurants with financial backing provided by American Development Partners (ADP). New markets slated for development include multiple restaurants throughout Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, TN, with another 10-restaurant deal expected to follow in 2021.
“Church’s Chicken® is a power brand,” said Larry Lavigne, one of the principal partners of Volunteer Chicken LLC. “We’re looking very forward to matching our experience with Church’s® market leadership.”
Mr. Lavigne is currently a franchise owner of Jett’s Pizza with 25 total restaurants, 18 of which are located in Tennessee. He is also involved with Tropical Smoothie Café restaurants in Tennessee. His partner, Nirav Patel, owns and operates several high-volume establishments in New Jersey and New York and has previously owned restaurants with The Melting Pot, Tilted Kilt, and World of Beer. Together with their financing partner, ADP, the new franchisees will open the first of their new Church’s® restaurants in fall of 2017 – with the rest to follow over the next 5 years. At that time, in 2021, the group plans to pursue development of 10 additional Church’s® restaurants over the following 5 years.
“This is a substantial deal for American Development Partners, and for our business partners, Volunteer Chicken,” said Caleb McMillen, Chief Operating Officer for ADP. “We’ve estimated the real estate, construction, and design value will be worth more than $40 million after the initial roll out of units is complete.”
The ADP group is a full-service development and private equity firm with a unique 100% turnkey model for funding that is ideal for multi-unit operators.
“From its earliest days, Church’s® has always been about smart business and building a superior brand. Restaurant developers like Volunteer Chicken and ADP are perfect examples of how our industry position provides leverage and opportunity to established franchise groups and newcomers alike,” said Bill Schreiber, Vice President of Global Business Development at Church’s Chicken®/Texas Chicken®. “We’re looking forward to the impact Volunteer Chicken is going to make in the Tennessee communities they’ll serve.”
About Church’s Chicken®
Founded in San Antonio, TX in 1952 by George W. Church, Church’s Chicken® is one of the largest quick service restaurant chicken chains in the world. Church’s® specializes in Original and Spicy Chicken freshly prepared throughout the day in small batches that are hand-battered and double-breaded, Tender Strips®, sandwiches, honey-butter biscuits made from scratch and freshly baked, and classic, home-style sides all for a great value. Church’s® (along with its sister brand Texas Chicken® outside the Americas) has more than 1,650 locations in 25 countries and international territories and system-wide sales of more than $1 billion. For more information, visit www.churchs.com. Follow Church’s® on Facebook at www.facebook.com/churchschicken and Twitter at www.twitter.com/churchschicken.
About American Development Partners
American Development Partners is a full service development, general contractor, architectural and private equity firm with the ability to build in all 50 states. American Development Partners franchise growth model (FGM) provides a 100% turnkey funding solution that allows successful multiunit operators to grow their business without using any of their own capital. For more information visit www.americandevelopmentpartners.com.
