Boberry shakes, no bone-in chicken: As Bojangles expands, so does its menu
Is Bojangles getting out of the chicken business?
Bojangles CEO Jose Armario told QSR Magazine recently that he would like to "get out of the chicken business."
“I want to get into the experience business," Armario told the publication. “That means you have to have great people who enjoy taking care of customers. So we begin by taking care of our people.”
Bojangles Vice President of Communications Stacey McCray issued the following statement about Armario’s commentary.
“Bojangles will always be in the business of serving delicious Southern chicken, biscuits and tea, and that will never change, McCray wrote in part. “As we expand into new markets, an enhanced guest experience will be a key differentiator, along with a streamlined menu featuring hand-breaded boneless chicken."
The Charlotte-based franchise opened its first location in 1977.
The restaurant, which is known for its Southern chicken and biscuits, currently has 750 locations in 12 states. The restaurant has been selected as a WRAL Voters' Choice Award winner and finalist multiple times for its sweet tea and biscuits.
Bojangles recently opened a series of new locations that have a streamlined menu without all-day breakfast (served until 2 p.m.) or bone-in chicken. None of those locations are in North Carolina, so far.
The chicken tenders are highlighted on the streamlined menu, as well as premium salads, and a side menu that does not feature grits, Cajun pintos or mashed potatoes and gravy. The drink selections include three milkshakes (chocolate, vanilla and Boberry).
Will this new streamlined menu be coming to existing restaurants?
McCray told WRAL Friday that there are "no plans to change the menu in our existing restaurants."
“Bojangles will always be in the business of serving delicious Southern chicken, biscuits and tea, and that will never change," McCray said. "As we expand into new markets, an enhanced guest experience will be a key differentiator, along with a streamlined menu featuring hand-breaded boneless chicken."
Bojangles is preparing to celebrate its 46th birthday on July 6.
In recent years, the restaurant has launched new menu items and even got into the "chicken sandwich wars" with a new chicken sandwich featuring a hand-breaded chicken breast, is served on a toasted bakery bun and topped with seasoned mayonnaise and thick-cut dill pickles.
Earlier this year, the brand teamed up with Boone-based Appalachian Mountain Brewery to make Bojangles Hard Sweet Tea. The alcoholic drink is not sold in Bojangles restaurants, but is on sale at independent retailers and chains like Circle K, QT, Sheetz, Spinx, Harris Teeter, ingles, Lowes, Walmart, Food Lion and other retailers in North and South Carolina.
In 2020, the brand relaunched with a new logo that dropped the of apostrophe at the end of the company name.
