Champs Chicken to add 150 locations following acquisition.
Pro Food Systems already serves a Champs Chicken in over 530 locations. That number recently increased by another 150 locations overnight—not bad for a day’s work.
It was a mere coincidence that on the 15th anniversary of its first Champs Chicken location opening, Pro Food Systems celebrated another momentous occasion in the life of the company. Today, the parent corporation is announcing the acquisition of the Cooper’s Express, a second strong chicken brand that currently includes over 150 quick-serve deli locations in the Pacific Northwest with more on the horizon.
“What makes Cooper’s Express a win for C-stores and supermarkets is not only the brand’s proven comfort-food appeal to consumers, but also its very low cost of entry,” said Shawn Burcham, CEO of Pro Food Systems Inc. “Our potential customers from around the country have been asking us for a branded program like this that is based on a simple supply agreement. So, we couldn’t be more excited to expand the Cooper’s Express brand into new markets across the country.”
Champs Chicken, Pro Food Systems’ long-established brand, has locations across 32 states overall, while Cooper’s Express dominates a two-state market for the same category in Washington and Oregon.
Since the Champs Chicken brand was just starting to take hold in the Northwest, the two branded programs complement each other well geographically. More importantly, deli operators around the country working with Pro Food Systems will now have an opportunity to choose between a true franchise “business-within-a-business” program (Champs Chicken) or a more flexible branded program (Cooper’s Express), whichever one best suits the operator.
“I am so gratified that a strong player in the food service industry like Pro Food Systems would see the potential of Cooper’s Express and want to take it national,” said Bill Anderson, founder of Cooper’s Express, “My team and I are excited to help Shawn and his team at Pro Food Systems in every way we can to build and expand upon the success we established here in the Northwest.” C-store deli operators across the country will also have a reason to celebrate. The Cooper’s Express brand is well known for its retailer-friendly supply agreement with literally no time commitment, free on-site training and outstanding profit margins. This is one anniversary that the entire team at Pro Food Systems will not soon forget.