Bojangles brings on Subway vet as VP of growth

Dive Brief:

Bojangles has hired Patricia Halpin as vice president of growth, according to an email sent to Restaurant Dive Thursday.
Halpin, who previously served as head of development for market operations at Subway, will lead the company’s franchise expansion across key markets in the U.S.
Bojangles has already signed large development agreements within the last two years ending 2021, adding over 100 units in its development pipeline last year.

Dive Insight:

Halpin’s entry to Bojangles’ development team will further support the restaurant’s growing relationships with new and existing franchisees nationwide. Jeff Rigsby, who operates 92 units and is Bojangle’s largest franchisee, signed a 45-unit agreement last year to add locations across the Southeast and a new market of Columbus, Ohio. Bojangles also signed an agreement with new franchisee Chaac Foods Restaurants to open 40 units and acquire 40 corporate locations last spring.

Halpin brings over 20 years of restaurant experience to her new role and has focused on franchising throughout her career. In addition to working at Subway, where her responsibilities included driving market optimization, franchising, remodels and store growth, she also worked at Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’. At Dunkin’ she also led franchising efforts across new and existing domestic and international markets. In her new role, Halpin will report to Bojangles Chief Development Officer Bryon Chandler.

In 2021, Bojangles bulked up its development team with the addition of Chandler, who worked at McDonald’s for nearly two decades. It also promoted Jose Costa to chief growth officer. For two years prior to this appointment, Costa led franchise development at the chain and was instrumental in signing the chain’s major deals last year.

While the company has been largely signing deals in the Southeast, Bojangles said it is looking for opportunities in the Southwest, Northeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic as well. Bojangles reports its average unit volumes are $1.9 million, with 40% of sales coming from the morning day part, according to the press release. Interested franchisees need to have a minimum net worth of $1 million and liquid capital of $500,000. Investments typically range from $590,100 to over $2.8 million for traditional and non-traditional units.