What was the name of the former affiliate of Chesters that also offered 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.
Before the First Chester's began offering CHESTER'S Restaurant franchises on approximately March 1, 2004, our former affiliate, Giles Enterprises, Inc. ("Giles"), whose address was 2750 Gunter Park Drive West, Montgomery, Alabama 36121, licensed existing retail operators to operate quick-service chicken and sides restaurants similar to the Restaurant opportunity offered in our disclosure document in a program called the "CHESTER FRIED® Total Program" (the "Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants"). Giles began licensing operators to operate Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants in 1974; as of December 31, 2024, there were approximately 16 Operators of Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants remaining in the United States. Operators of Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants generally did not receive all the benefits of a CHESTER'S Restaurant franchise and also were not subject to all the same restrictions and obligations.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–12)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Chesters Franchise Disclosure Document, a former affiliate named Chester's International, LLC, also referred to as the "First Chester's", offered Chesters Restaurant franchises from approximately March 1, 2004, through December 2007. This entity had a principal business address at 3500 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 325, Birmingham, Alabama 35243.
The current Chesters International, LLC acquired all existing CHESTER'S Agreements, trademarks, and related assets and obligations from the First Chester's effective as of December 31, 2007, through a merger where the current entity was the survivor. As of December 31, 2007, there were 44 Chesters Restaurant franchises in operation that had been sold by the First Chester's.
Prospective franchisees should note that the franchise system has evolved since the First Chester's offered franchises. Understanding the history of the franchise and the transition from the First Chester's to the current entity may provide valuable insight into the brand's development and current strategies.