Church's Texas Chicken names new development chief
A quick-serve fried chicken chain has added new talent to its C-suite to oversee growth.
Bobby Morena has been tapped as Church's Texas Chicken’s new chief development officer, effective immediately. In the role, Morena will lead all aspects of Church’s domestic development strategy, including franchise sales, real estate, design and construction, with a focus on accelerating the expansion of the brand across the United States.
Morena has more than 25 years of experience in franchise development in the restaurant space. He joins Church’s from GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Moe’s Southwest Grill and more, where he spent more than four and a half years. He spent the last 11 months as the company’s chief development officer.
“Bobby has an impressive track record in franchise development and is the ideal leader who will accelerate the next chapter of our growth,” said Roland Gonzalez, CEO & president of Church’s Texas Chicken, who took the reins of the chain in February. “He understands how to scale brands with discipline and ambition, and he shares our commitment to franchise success and operational excellence.”
Prior to his time at GoTo Foods, Morena spent more than 19 years as the director of franchise development at Jimmy John’s, playing a key role in the sandwich chain’s growth from less than 100 locations to thousands nationwide.
Church’s says Morena will play a key role in advancing the brand’s goal of reaching $2 billion in system sales, which will be “heavily dependent” on organic growth with current franchisees and driving new development, including strategic re-franchising of corporate locations, and by introducing new franchisees to the brand. The company also plans to "deepen its presence in existing markets while entering new communities."
[READ MORE: Church's Texas Chicken accelerates remodeling initiative amid expansion]
“Great brands are built by great people,” said Morena. “I’m honored to join such an iconic brand and I’m looking forward to working with this impressive team to help bring Church’s to more guests across the country.”
Founded in San Antonio, Texas in 1952, Church’s Texas Chicken operates more than 1,400 locations in 22 countries. The brand specializes in original and spicy chicken freshly prepared throughout the day in small batches.
