What marks must a franchisee operate under when running a Churchs Chicken restaurant?
Churchs_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Each Restaurant is operated under a Franchise Agreement. A copy of our standard Franchise Agreement is attached as Exhibit C. Under the Franchise Agreement, we grant you the right (and you accept the responsibility) to operate a Restaurant. You must operate the Restaurant under the Proprietary Marks.
Also in connection with the financing transaction, Cajun Operating contributed its 100% ownership interest in Cajun Funding Corp. ("Cajun Funding"), owner of the Church's® , Church's Chicken® and Church's Texas Chicken® trade names, service marks and other trademarks that are associated with the System (collectively, the "Proprietary Marks"), to us. Cajun Funding has granted us a 99-year license to use, and license others to use, the Proprietary Marks. Cajun Funding has never offered franchises in any line of business. Cajun Funding's principal business address is the same as ours.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 7–10)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Churchs Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must operate their restaurant under the Proprietary Marks. These Proprietary Marks are trade names, service marks, and other trademarks associated with the Churchs Chicken system. Specifically, these marks include Church's®, Church's Chicken® and Church's Texas Chicken®.
This means that when operating a Churchs Chicken franchise, the franchisee is required to use these specific brand names and associated trademarks in all aspects of the business. This includes signage, marketing materials, and any other representation of the brand to the public. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure brand consistency and recognition across all Churchs Chicken locations.
By mandating the use of Proprietary Marks, Churchs Chicken aims to maintain a uniform brand identity and protect its trademarks. This helps customers easily identify and associate the restaurant with the quality and standards of the Churchs Chicken system. Franchisees must adhere to these guidelines to ensure they are in compliance with the franchise agreement and contribute to the overall brand image.