Morena Brings 25-Plus Years of Experience in Restaurant Franchise Development
Church’s Texas Chicken, a quick-service restaurant franchise, has appointed Bobby Morena chief development officer. Morena leads Church’s domestic development strategy, including franchise sales, real estate, design and construction. His background includes 25-plus years of experience in franchise development at brands such as Jimmy John’s and GoTo Foods.
“I’ve had the privilege of helping scale brands from early-stage growth to thousands of units,” Morena said. “What drew me to Church’s is the combination of an iconic brand, a passionate franchise community and a leadership team that’s focused on continuing the brand’s legacy and delivering a great product and experience.”
He said he’s excited about helping franchisees strengthen their performance and bringing new, experienced operators into the brand. “There are also many opportunities for us to expand, and it will be exciting to be part of bringing the brand into new markets and engaging new brand fans.”
Morena said he enjoys seeing entrepreneurs realize their dreams of owning their own businesses. “Accomplishing this in the fast-food industry takes a real sense of customer service and connection to the local community. The Church has such a loyal following, and for us, it’s about being true to ourselves and the communities in which we and our franchisees serve. The best way to stay competitive is to be authentic, provide value and a quality product, as this mixture is powerful.”
Morena said successful franchise owners are servant leaders. “It’s important for them to be present for their teams and their managers — removing obstacles for them and filling their cups with energy and encouragement. If franchisees focus on the people and the processes provided by the franchisor, they’ve got a great chance at success!”
Roland Gonzalez, CEO and president of Church’s Texas Chicken, said Morena’s extensive background in the restaurant industry was key to his appointment. “He understands how to scale brands with discipline and ambition, and he shares our commitment to franchise success and operational excellence,” Gonzalez said.
Morena holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Michigan State University and serves on the Georgia Restaurant Association Board of Directors.
About Church’s Texas Chicken
Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952 by George W. Church Sr., Church’s Texas Chicken, along with its international sister brand, Texas Chicken, are among the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chains in the world. The brands specialize in original and spicy chicken, honey-butter biscuits and home-style sides. Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken have more than 1,400 locations in 22 countries. Owned by High Bluff Capital Partners and FS Investments since 2021, Church’s celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022.
