When did Chesters begin offering restaurant franchises?
Chesters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We grant franchises for quick-service Restaurants operating primarily under the CHESTER'S name that sell chicken and sides ("Restaurants"). We began offering CHESTER'S Restaurant franchises in January 2008. However, our former affiliate, also named Chester's International, LLC (the "First Chester's"), whose principal business address was 3500 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 325, Birmingham, Alabama 35243, offered CHESTER'S Restaurant franchises from approximately March 1, 2004, through December 2007. The CHESTER'S Restaurant franchises offered in this disclosure document are primarily for Restaurants to be located within and operated as part of other existing retail businesses, such as convenience stores (our "Restaurant-in-Store" concept), although we occasionally offer franchises for CHESTER'S Restaurants to be located at food court, strip mall, or other non-traditional locations (such as sports arenas or stadiums). Certain information appearing in this disclosure document, for example, outlet information in Item 20, covers all CHESTER'S Restaurants, regardless of their locations, because they operate under the same brand and sell the same products. We distinguish between these types of locations when necessary.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–12)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chesters's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the company began offering restaurant franchises in January 2008. However, the FDD notes that a former affiliate, also named Chester's International, LLC (referred to as "the First Chester's"), offered Chesters Restaurant franchises from approximately March 1, 2004, through December 2007.
It's important to note that the Chesters Restaurant franchises offered in the 2025 FDD are primarily for Restaurants to be located within and operated as part of other existing retail businesses, such as convenience stores, which is referred to as their "Restaurant-in-Store" concept. However, Chesters occasionally offers franchises for Restaurants to be located at food courts, strip malls, or other non-traditional locations, such as sports arenas or stadiums.
Prospective franchisees should be aware that certain information in the FDD, such as outlet information in Item 20, covers all Chesters Restaurants, regardless of their locations, because they operate under the same brand and sell the same products. The document distinguishes between these types of locations when necessary.