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
Hartz Chicken Buffet
TypePrivate
IndustryFood
Founded1972 (1972) in Texas, United States
FounderW. Lawrence Hartzog Sr.
Headquarters
Spring, Texas, United States
Area served
North America, Malaysia
ProductsFast food, including fried chicken, french fries, yeast rolls, fried fish and salads, hot vegetables, hot soup and ice-cream.
OwnerHartz Franchise Restaurants, Ltd
Websitehartz-chicken.com

History
Hartz Chicken Buffet in Tomball, Texas

W. Lawrence Hartzog Sr.[1] (February 1, 1930 – August 29, 2004), who was a personal friend of Colonel Sanders of KFC, 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. 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.[5] Wingstop was sold to Roark Capital Group in 2010.[6] The chain once opened as far as Indonesia in early 2000s but it was folded sometime before 2009.

In 2018 Hartz Franchise Restaurants, Ltd named AVVA Agency its creative agency of record. The agency begun working immediately to catalog existing assets, develop online presence and creative campaigns for the brand. AVVA Agency's first assignment involved the creation and execution of new in-store, online and print advertising to promote a slate of new menu and products. Agency known as an author of the rebranding refreshment also. [7]

At some locations buffets were suspended in March 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. But pick-up and take-away services remained available.

References
  1. "W. Lawrence Hartzog Sr". Legacy.com. September 1, 2004. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  2. "Hartz Franchise Restaurants Ltd". Food and Drink Magazine. February 27, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  3. "Hartz Fried Chicken sold". United Press International, Inc. April 11, 1989. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  4. "Hartz Chicken adds to Asian roost after hatching expansion program". Houston Business Journal. May 11, 1997. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  5. "Wingstop Purchased". QSR Magazine. January 28, 2003. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  6. "Previous Restaurant and Food Investments". Roark Capital Group. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  7. "Transforming Digital Grey Areas". AVVA Agency. March 21, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
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