CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bojangles announced today that Byron Chandler, an experienced QSR industry real estate executive, has been named chief development officer for the restaurant chain best known for its chicken, biscuits and Legendary Iced Tea®. In this new role, he will be responsible for leading Bojangles’ real estate, construction and design teams and implementing the company’s strategic plans to build its real estate portfolio for future growth. Chandler will begin on June 7.
“With recent strategic growth announcements, it’s clear that demand for the Bojangles brand is growing,” said Jose Armario, CEO of Bojangles. “Byron’s proven track record of leadership in restaurant development will further fuel our pipeline and strengthen our presence in new and existing markets.”
Chandler has a history of success in real estate development and construction management with McDonald’s, where he most recently served as head of the new site acquisition team for the U.S. and was with the fast-food chain for nearly 20 years. Prior to that, he spent six years as real estate and construction manager for BurgerBusters, a Yum! Brands franchisee, leading real estate acquisition and construction management of new and remodeled Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants.
“Joining the Bojangles team is a natural fit for me,” said Chandler. “They have great leadership, great employees, great food, a growing iconic brand with a culture of hospitality and authenticity. What’s not to get excited about? I am truly humbled to be part of this brand and look forward to working with Jose and the team to build on its success.”
Chandler received his undergraduate degree from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia and an MBA from the University of Mississippi.
In addition to Chandler’s appointment, Jose Costa will now become Chief Growth Officer to focus on national franchising and international growth. Costa has led franchise development at Bojangles for the past two years and achieved success with recent deals such as Love’s Travel Stops, long-time Bojangles’ franchisee Jeff Rigsy and Chaac Foods to expand Bojangles’ presence in new and existing markets.
“There is nothing more important in our goal of becoming a Southern Powerhouse than securing experienced, high-quality franchisees to grow our brand,” said Armario. “Jose has done a great job in this area, and we look forward to continuing this momentum of strategic growth as he works closely with Byron.”
Chandler and Costa will report to Armario and serve on the company’s Executive Leadership Team made up of a diverse group of veteran business, retail and restaurant leaders with more than 100 years of combined experience. The company was recently named to Forbes’ list of the Top 500 Places to Work for Diversity.
Our focus on growth is a key driver in 2021 and beyond. If you’re looking to franchise, now’s the time to join our beloved southeastern brand as we grow to meet demand for our real deal southern flavors across the country.
The partnership agreement calls for Chaac Foods to open 40 new Bojangles stores over the next 7 years. 25 of those stores will be in Georgia, where Bojangles currently has a presence, and 15 will open in Orlando, Florida. Chaac will acquire 40 existing corporate-owned stores throughout Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee markets.
If there’s one thing that makes sunshine even better, it’s scratch-made biscuits and fresh-never-frozen fried chicken. Florida, we heard you, and we’re on our way with more beloved Bo offerings. We’re excited to continue addressing demand from our fans across the country in the future.
Chaac Foods is a leading operator of quick-service restaurants and casual dining franchises, including Pizza Hut, Cru Food & Wine Bars, Ling & Louie’s, Applebee’s, Panda Express and now Bojangles.
“We are thrilled to join forces with the accomplished team at Chaac Foods,” said Jose Costa, our chief development officer. “The company’s caliber of operations is well-recognized, and to have a partner with that pedigree invest in Bojangles speaks volumes about our brand and our growth plans for the future.”
This partnership with Chaac Foods is the second major acquisition announcement we’ve made this year — the first a 45-store development with longtime Bojangles franchisee Jeff Rigsby. We’re confident in our growth projections and looking forward to an exciting time in development.
Reach out today to get on board.
About Bojangles, Inc.
Bojangles, Inc. is a highly differentiated and growing restaurant operator and franchisor dedicated to serving customers high-quality, craveable food made from our Southern recipes, including breakfast served All Day, Every Day. Founded in 1977 in Charlotte, N.C., Bojangles® serves menu items such as made-from-scratch biscuit breakfast sandwiches, delicious hand-breaded bone-in chicken, flavorful fixins (sides) and Legendary Iced Tea®. Currently, Bojangles has approximately 760 system-wide restaurants in 14 states. For more information, visit or follow Bojangles on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.