Dive Brief:
- Bojangles opened a support center and headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, this month, the company said in an emailed press release.
- The center includes a full-scale test kitchen, modern workspaces, gathering areas and decor reflective of Bojangles’ Southern-style branding.
- The new building will support Bojangles’ ongoing nationwide growth strategy as it reaches into new markets like Houston, Las Vegas and New Jersey. The chain, which has 800 units, expects to reach 1,000 units in the near future.
Dive Insight:
Bojangles is one of several chains opening new corporate offices to support expansion plans. In Atlanta, Shake Shack opened a support center, flagship restaurant and a kitchen innovation center that will allow the chain to test different layouts. KFC is moving from its long-time headquarters in Kentucky to Texas, where Pizza Hut is located. In 2023, Subway opened a second headquarters in Miami.
Bojangles’ new headquarters is over 61,000 square feet compared to its previous office that spanned 50,000 square feet across two buildings, according to Axios Charlotte. The space includes a training center called The Richard Thomas Learning and Leadership Development Center, named after one of Bojangles’ founders.
Bojangles will continue to expand into new locations this year and opened 10 new restaurants during the first quarter. In the near future, the chain expects to open spots in Florida, Louisiana, Colorado and Texas. It’s also been exploring non-traditional locations and has partnerships with Love’s Travel Shops and TravelCenters of America.
The test kitchen will support the chain’s ongoing menu innovation strategy, which has included several recent limited-time offers, such as a Breakfast Bo-Rito, Watermelon Sweet Tea, Bo Berry Biscuits and Cookies, and Chicken Rice Bowls.
Correction: The article has been updated to include the name of the training center at Bojangles’ headquarters.
