030126 Church's Chicken Buys 35 Restaurants

Atlanta, GA - Church's Chicken, a division of AFC Enterprises, Inc., announces the completion of a deal with WETCO Restaurant Group, LLC, to convert 35 company-operated restaurants throughout Louisiana, into franchise ownership. WETCO Restaurant Group, LLC is owned and operated by businessman W. E. “Bill” Tucker, Jr. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This purchase brings the total number of WETCO-owned and operated Church's Chicken restaurants to 39.

“We are delighted to provide another vehicle for growth to one of our existing franchise partners,” said Hala Moddelmog, president of Church's Chicken. “This deal follows our franchise growth model by providing more opportunities for success for AFC franchise partners.”

This sale represents part of AFC Enterprises' ongoing business strategy of converting hundreds of its company owned and operated units to franchise units, while retaining a smaller number of units which will serve as best-practice models for the entire system. In addition, WETCO Restaurant Group, LLC has signed an agreement to build an additional 14 Church's restaurants, which will be added to its current holdings.

“This acquisition represents an excellent opportunity for WETCO to further its goal of becoming one of the premier QSR operators in the country, while making a substantial investment in the urban community historically served by the Church's Chicken concept,” said Bill Tucker, CEO & President of WETCO Restaurant Group, LLC.

In addition to serving as CEO & President of WETCO Restaurant Group, LLC, Tucker holds the posts of CEO & President at WETCO Capital, LLC, a seed capital fund investing in the high-tech sector, W. E. Tucker Construction Company, Inc., specializing in home building and light commercial construction, W. E. Tucker Insurance Agency, Inc., a full-service, independent insurance provider, WETCO Financial, Inc., a licensed, residential mortgage broker and consumer lender, and W. E. Tucker Company and Affiliates, a diversified real estate firm specializing in residential and commercial sales, property management and maintenance services.

In 1998, Tucker founded the W. E. Tucker Family Foundation, an affiliate of the National Heritage Foundation, and has served as its director since its inception.

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