Bush’s Chicken is a popular fast food chicken restaurant chain that specializes in fried chicken and chicken tenders. The company was founded in 1980 by Lonnie and Thelma Bush in Dallas, Texas. Since then, Bush’s Chicken has grown to over 200 locations across the Southern United States. Many customers enjoy Bush’s Chicken for its hand-breaded, pressure-fried chicken recipe that results in a crispy and juicy product. The brand has a cult following throughout Texas and the surrounding states.
When a regional restaurant chain becomes as popular as Bush’s Chicken, it’s natural for customers to wonder about its ownership and corporate structure. Who exactly owns and runs Bush’s Chicken? Is the company still owned by the Bush family or has it been sold to a larger corporation? This article will investigate the ownership history and current corporate status of Bush’s Chicken.
Original Ownership by the Bush Family
Bush’s Chicken was founded by husband and wife entrepreneurs Lonnie and Thelma Bush. The couple opened their first restaurant in 1980 after developing a unique chicken breading recipe. The Bush’s Chicken concept proved popular, allowing the company to expand to 93 locations by 1998. At that time, Bush’s Chicken was very much a family-owned business run by Lonnie and Thelma Bush and their two daughters.
For the first 18 years, Bush’s Chicken remained solely owned and operated by the Bush family. The founders carefully grew the chain across Texas while guarding the secret recipe that made their chicken so delicious and crispy. Bush’s Chicken benefited from the familial culture with every franchise being hands-on managed by Lonnie, Thelma, and their daughters.
Bush’s Chicken Locations in 1998
| Year | Number of Locations |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1990 | 12 |
| 1998 | 93 |
As shown in the table, Bush’s Chicken expanded from 1 location in 1980 to 93 locations by 1998, all while remaining in the Bush family.
Selling the Business to a New Company
In 1998, the Bush family decided to sell their wildly successful homegrown chicken business. The founders were getting closer to retirement and were ready to cash out their investment. That year, Bush’s Chicken was acquired by a Dallas-based private equity firm called Milestone Capital.
Milestone Capital purchased Bush’s Chicken with the strategy of accelerating expansion. At the time of the acquisition, Bush’s Chicken was only located in Texas. Milestone aimed to take the brand into new markets across the Southern and Southeastern United States.
The Bush family remained involved for one year after the sale to facilitate a smooth transition. However, by 1999, they had exited day-to-day management of the company they had founded and nurtured for 18 years.
Major Events Since Milestone Acquisition
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Milestone Capital acquires Bush’s Chicken |
| 1999 | Bush family exits management |
| 2004 | Bush’s Chicken sold to Boston-based private equity firm Advent International |
| 2009 | Company acquired by Arcapita Bank of Bahrain |
| 2019 | Brentwood Associates purchases Bush’s Chicken |
This timeline shows how Bush’s Chicken has continued changing hands between different investment groups, even as it expanded outside of Texas.
Ownership Under Brentwood Associates
Today, 20 years after the Bush family sold the business, Bush’s Chicken is owned by Brentwood Associates – a Los Angeles based private equity firm. Brentwood acquired the chicken chain in 2019 from previous owner Arcapita Bank.
Bush’s Chicken was an attractive acquisition for Brentwood due to its strong brand recognition in the South and consistent financial performance. At the time of Brentwood’s purchase, annual systemwide sales at Bush’s Chicken were approximately $250 million. Under Brentwood’s ownership, expansion has continued with 14 new restaurant locations opened across Texas and Oklahoma.
The current CEO of Bush’s Chicken is Al Noorani. He has extensive restaurant experience as the former President and COO of Wingstop. Noorani was brought on board by Brentwood Associates to further grow the Bush’s Chicken concept. The company now has over 200 total locations in operation.
Bush’s Chicken Ownership Timeline Summary
| Years | Owners |
|---|---|
| 1980-1998 | Bush Family |
| 1998-2004 | Milestone Capital |
| 2004-2009 | Advent International |
| 2009-2019 | Arcapita Bank |
| 2019-Present | Brentwood Associates |
This condensed timeline summarizes the change of owners throughout Bush’s Chicken history while the company greatly expanded.
Secret Recipe Still Locked Away
While Bush’s Chicken is now owned by an investment firm, one thing about the company has not changed – the specific blend of spices used to create that signature fried chicken is still a secret recipe. When the Bush family sold the business, they did not hand over their proprietary seasoning recipe.
To this day, only a few select employees know the exact blend of herbs and spices used in Bush’s Chicken breading and batter. The recipe is kept locked away at company headquarters. This secrecy maintains Bush’s competitive advantage and gives customers confidence they are getting the true handcrafted flavor the brand was built on.
Positive Customer Experience Remains
Despite changing ownership multiple times, loyal customers report the great Bush’s Chicken experience has stayed consistent over the years. That seems to indicate whoever the new owner is, they have focused on maintaining high quality standards rather than trying to cut costs. The chicken is still hand breaded and fried fresh in small batches throughout the day.
Many guests say they cannot tell the difference between Bush’s Chicken now versus 20 years ago when it was family-owned. The company does seem to have succeeded in expanding while preserving the hallmarks of Bush’s Chicken that customers have come to know and love.
Conclusion
Bush’s Chicken was founded in 1980 by Lonnie and Thelma Bush in Dallas, Texas. For nearly two decades, it remained a small family-owned chain concentrated in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In 1998, the Bush family sold their prosperous chicken business to a private equity firm, kickstarting a period of rapid expansion across the South.
Since the initial sale, Bush’s Chicken has been owned by a succession of investment companies who continued growing the chain. It is currently owned by Brentwood Associates, which purchased Bush’s Chicken in 2019. Despite repeatedly changing hands, the core values established by the Bush family have generally remained intact. The signature chicken recipe they perfected over 40 years ago is still a secret, and the dining experience strives to be consistent. While no longer owned by its founders, Bush’s Chicken succeeds in transporting customers back to the early days through its craveable comfort food.