Franchising

Bojangles inks 20-unit master franchise agreement

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March 24, 2022

Bojangles has signed a 20-unit franchise development agreement to expand the brand's footprint for Houston and surrounding markets.

Leading the development is veteran franchisee Moussa Haidar and partner Tom Pisula of MOTOM, LLC, who began owning and operating restaurant concepts together in 2021. The agreement comes on the heels of Bojangles' Texas expansion announcement at the beginning of the year and brings the brand's Texas development pipeline to 70 units, according to a press release.

"Our launch into Texas was a big step forward for the brand, and we are excited to expand Bojangles' footprint under the leadership of Moussa and Tom. They have built an impressive portfolio at MOTOM and we believe their industry experience and market knowledge will help drive Bojangles' strategic expansion within the state," Jose Costa, chief growth officer at Bojangles, said in the release. "Our entry into Texas is really just beginning. Many of our fans have relocated to Houston and neighboring cities from states where Bojangles is prevalent, so we're finding that we already have strong brand awareness in the region, which makes these major Texas cities perfect target markets for our brand. We look forward to seeing Moussa and Tom's success."

Haidar owns more than 30 restaurant concepts, including iHop and Twin Peaks restaurants. Pisula was exposed to Bojangles early on as fellow military members turned to Bojangles for their comfort food fix. This inspired Pisula to partner with Haidar to expand Bojangles' presence.

"I've experienced firsthand how loyal Bojangles' customer base is, especially among military members. This is a beloved brand, and with the strong military presence and brand awareness in Houston, we are confident that we'll see success in this new market," Pisula said in the release. "Bojangles offers an unbeatable menu, innovative business models and unique growth opportunities. We are eager to be part of Bojangles' expansion in Texas."

Bojangles currently has approximately 750 system-wide restaurants in 14 states.