The Church’s Texas Chicken brand has returned to Jamaica with the opening of a new location at Mall Plaza in Kingston, overseen by the Global Brands Group of Companies.

Director Anthony Sabga-Aboud marked the launch, stating the company aims to expand its presence on the island. The brand was previously operated in Jamaica by a different franchise from 2002 to 2005.

“Jamaica is a great country, a great community and great economy. So, it’s an island that we’re looking to grow our presence in,” Sabga-Aboud said with joy.

Businessman Roy d’Cambre brought Church’s Chicken to Jamaica in 2002, but the business shuttered its doors in three years during the country’s economic upheaval. Nearly two decades later, the Trinidadian restaurant management company has brought back the brand.

“It’s a great location, a great area to launch the brand. The feedback today so far has been extremely positive. Customers love the chicken, biscuits, sides and desserts. So, we’re going to make sure we can deliver on the promise of great food and customer service,” Sabga-Aboud explained.

Global Brands invested US$1.25 million ($197.50 million) into the Mall Plaza location and has ambitions to establish additional locations in key areas across the country. The drive-through section will open in January and will see the redirection of traffic flows in the location.

Church’s Texas Chicken is the latest major quick service restaurant (QSR) brand after Starbucks and Domino’s Pizza to be added to the Mall Plaza location on Constant Spring Road. Mall Plaza is 40 per cent controlled by Eppley Caribbean Property Fund Limited SCC – Value Fund (CPFV) which is in turn managed by a subsidiary of Eppley Limited.

Church’s entry represents the latest fried chicken outfit to join the Jamaican landscape in the last decade with Quick Chick and BirdShack Fried Chicken being the other debutants. KFC and Popeyes are two other fast growing international QSR brands while Chicken and Tings is a local home grown brand.

Sabga-Aboud indicated that the company has hired more than 50 employees for its Mall Plaza location and was still hiring new employees. Dane Swaby is the restaurant general manager for the location.

The event saw the appearance of Church’s Texas Chicken executives Tim Waddell, executive vice-president of International Business and Gregg Gallagher, vice-president of the Americas. The Best Dressed Chicken team of Jamaica Broilers Group Limited (JBG) was also present during the event.

“We do well in the other markets and we’re just excited to be here in Jamaica,” said Nigel Glasgow, marketing manager at Global Brands.

Global Brands Group of Companies was founded in November 1986 by Mario Sabga-Aboud, Anthony’s father, with the opening of the Burger Boys restaurant in Trinidad & Tobago. The portfolio of brands later expanded to Rituals Coffee House, Donut Boys, Rituals Sushi, and Wok ’n’ Roll. The company also operates the VIP Flyers’ Lounge at Piarco International Airport along with Imperial Gardens and Vie de France, according to its page on Caribbeanjobs.com. Global Brands Group has a portfolio of more than 140 restaurants spanning 12 brands across the Caribbean. Mario spent four years in Jamaica during the 1970s.

Rituals Coffee House operates in Village Plaza, adjacent to Mall Plaza. Rituals Coffee House use to have a second location in Fairview, Montego Bay.

The Church’s Texas Chicken brand exists in 23 countries with over 1,500 locations. Global Brands now operates the Church’s brand in four countries including St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago. The first St Kitts location was opened on November 14 at Atlantic View Plaza in Frigate Bay, while the company opened in Sangre Grande, Trinidad, on October 23. The company has 23 Church’s locations in Trinidad and one location in Castries, St Lucia.

“My heart goes out to everybody who was affected by the hurricane. We’re here and we’re going to stand by everybody in Jamaica,” Glasgow said in response to the impact Hurricane Melissa has had on Jamaica.

Trinidadian companies deepening Jamaican presence

The investment by Global Brands is the latest QSR investment being made by a Trinidadian company as firms expand outside of twin-island republic where foreign exchange (FX) access continues to be a challenge. Prestige Holdings Limited is currently spending $255 million or US$1.58 million to open its second TGI Fridays store in Portmore, St Catherine. That location was scheduled to be opened in November, but the company’s Jamaican franchise was doing another recruitment drive in late November for employees to staff the location.

Mario Sabga-Aboud, chairman of Global Brands, told TV6TNT in December that its investments in the other islands was a life saver, in terms of access to FX. Jamaica’s net international reserves surpassed Trinidad in January 2025, highlighting the sharp contrast between the two countries.

This situation continues to spur investment and business from the twin island republic into Jamaica for growth opportunities and access to FX. Agostini Limited’s (AGL) 50 per cent joint venture Acado Limited (formerly Caribbean Distribution Partners Limited) is currently in the process of acquiring Massy Distribution (Jamaica) Limited from Massy Holdings Limited. Chairman Christian Mouttet updated AGL investors last week in its audited financials summary that it working to close the acquisition which has been flagged by the Jamaican Fair Trading Commission over the potential monopoly on insulin brands.

“We are working with suppliers to address an over-concentration in a particular product category raised by the regulator and expect to meet the requirement imminently,” Mouttet stated.

PriceSmart Inc’s Trinidad & Tobago subsidiary raised US$50 million in Jamaica during its fourth quarter (June to August) to meet operational needs and help reduce the shortfall in sourcing United States dollar due to the illiquid FX conditions. Even First Citizens Bank Limited, a subsidiary of First Citizens Group Financial Holdings Limited, lent US$17 million for a real estate project in St Catherine within the last year.

Church’s Texas Chicken is open for business.  (Photo: Joseph Wellington)