Hartz Chicken
Hartz Chicken (also known as Hartz Chicken Buffet and Hartz Krispy Chicken 'N' Rolls) is an American fast food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken. The company supplies more than 60 locations in Texas, mostly around the Houston metropolitan area, and Malaysia, as well as one restaurant in Shreveport, LA.
Hartz Chicken Buffet | |
Type | Private |
Industry | Food |
Founded | 1972Texas, United States | in
Founder | W. Lawrence Hartzog Sr. |
Headquarters | |
Area served | North America, Malaysia |
Products | Fast food, including fried chicken, french fries, yeast rolls, fried fish and salads, hot vegetables, hot soup and ice-cream. |
Owner | Hartz Franchise Restaurants, Ltd |
Website | hartz-chicken |
History
W. Lawrence Hartzog Sr.[1] (February 1, 1930 - August 29, 2004), a personal friend of Colonel Sanders, started Hartz Chicken under Hartzog Inc. in 1972.[1][2] He opened a total of 45 units, 13 of which were company owned and 32 of which were franchised, in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
He sold the lot in 1986 to a newly formed AJP Enterprises subsidiary, Hartz Chicken Inc.[3]
The chain began international expansion with a store in Malaysia under the name Hartz Chicken Buffet. In the late 1990s the brand opened locations in Jakarta, Indonesia and Shanghai, China, both of which later closed.[4]
Between 1986 and July 1994, the chain was managed by George N. Samaras (CEO/Director) under Hartz Chicken International Co. which voluntarily dissolved on July 13, 1994.[5] After transferring the chain to Hartz Restaurant International Inc., Hartz Restaurants International Inc. and Gemini Investors Inc. formed Wingstop Holdings, Inc. in 2003 and acquired Wingstop from its founder, Antonio Swad.[6] Wingstop was sold to Roark Capital Group in 2010.[7]
References
- "W. Lawrence Hartzog Sr". Legacy.com. September 1, 2004. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- "Hartz Franchise Restaurants Ltd". Food and Drink Magazine. February 27, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
- "Hartz Fried Chicken sold". United Press International, Inc. April 11, 1989. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- "Hartz Chicken adds to Asian roost after hatching expansion program". Houston Business Journal. May 11, 1997. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
- "Hartz Chicken International Co". Bizpedia. August 26, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- "Wingstop Purchased". QSR Magazine. January 28, 2003. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- "Previous Restaurant and Food Investments". Roark Capital Group. Retrieved October 17, 2018.