Is Bojangles finally ready to go national? This new strategy could be key
Take-Away with Sam Oches
Nation's Restaurant News
4.9 • 17 Ratings
🗓️ 1 February 2024
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Jose Armario, CEO of Bojangles, the beloved North Carolina based franchise specializing in chicken and biscuits. Bojangles has grown to more than 800 locations but historically has struggled to expand beyond its Southeast roots — until now. Jose joined the podcast to talk about how the chain’s pared down menu focused on boneless chicken is helping Bojangles successfully enter new growth markets.
In this conversation, you’ll find out why:
- Status as a cult-favorite starts with the food
- Strong execution is the foundation for robust expansion
- Go where your customers want you to go
- The adoption of AI requires a careful balancing act
- People don’t leave companies; they leave managers
- You can’t run restaurants from your computer
Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away? Email Sam at sam.oches@informa.com.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey there, welcome to Takeaway with Sam Ocas, a podcast from Nation's Restaurant News. |
| 0:05.2 | I am Sam Ocas, editor-in-chief here at NRN, and this is the show where I give you an all-access pass to the restaurant industry's most influential decision-makers. |
| 0:14.2 | This week, I'm talking with Jose Armario, the CEO of Bojangles, a beloved North Carolina-based franchise specializing in chicken and biscuits. |
| 0:25.4 | Bojangles has grown to more than 800 locations, but historically it's really struggled to grow outside of its southeast route. |
| 0:34.2 | That is until now. The chain is expanding both north and west with a paired down menu |
| 0:41.1 | built around boneless chicken, a menu that is easier to execute thereby allowing franchisees |
| 0:47.5 | to really put their best foot forward to new guests in growth markets. Jose joined the podcast |
| 0:54.1 | to talk about the decision to put boneless chicken front and center, |
| 0:59.2 | the secrets to the brand's massive cult-like following, |
| 1:03.3 | and how he thinks Bojangles is on track to be a household name all across the country. |
| 1:08.4 | In this interview, you will learn more about why strong execution is the |
| 1:12.7 | foundation for robust expansion, why the adoption of AI requires a careful balancing act, and how |
| 1:20.6 | you cannot run restaurants from your computer. Jumping now into my interview with Bojangles, CEO, |
| 1:29.8 | Jose Armario. Also, don't forget to stick around after the interview as I will share my six takeaways from this discussion, |
| 1:34.6 | actionable insights that you can take with you on the go. |
| 1:38.5 | Okay, I'm here with Jose Armario, the CEO of Bojangles. Jose, thanks for joining me today. |
| 1:44.0 | Thank you, Sam. |
| 1:44.9 | Appreciate being here. |
| 1:46.0 | Big fan of Nation's Restaurant News. |
| 1:48.3 | So it's an honor to be on this podcast with you today. |
| 1:52.4 | Oh, an honor to have you. |
| 1:53.5 | I will get into this, but Jose, Bojangles has a very special place in my heart. |
... |
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