In 2019, with decades of experience in the quick-serve restaurant industry under his belt, Jose Armario saw an opportunity he couldn’t resist – the chance to expand a southeastern fan-favorite brand, Bojangles, to a national audience. His vision included strengthening the brand’s legacy and creating exciting new opportunities for employees and franchise owners alike. It was a prospect that excited him enough to set aside the ease of retirement and return to the workforce. Six years later, Jose is still all in and laser-focused on expanding the brand to new heights.
Leading the charge through the last few unpredictable years hasn’t been a walk in the park. Jose has steered Bojangles through pandemic-related disruptions, labor shortages and rising costs. Instead of letting those challenges slow things down, he leaned on his team – his “first-round draft picks,” as he calls them – to find solutions and keep pushing forward. His leadership approach is simple: he’s transparent, communicates often and surrounds himself with hardworking people who share his commitment to growing the brand. “An organization can only be successful when everyone is on the journey together,” Jose states. “If I do my best to ensure everyone is informed and aligned with our goals, it’s hard not to achieve them.”
That mindset has paid off. Bojangles has made huge strides in expanding into new markets, breaking through in areas where the company previously struggled to gain traction. Collaborating closely with the development team, OpCo and franchise owners, Jose has helped drive expansion success in Texas, Florida, Ohio, Mississippi, Nevada and New Jersey, with plans to bring Bojangles to California and Arizona in the near future. His goal with every new site remains clear: satisfy more guests, increase guest counts, boost profitability and create clear career pathways for team members to grow within the company to retain talent. In simpler terms, Jose says “We’re not punching above our weight in the QSR industry. People are just suddenly taking notice. That’s a clear sign of our growth in the landscape.”
Jose’s personal journey also has influenced his professional outlook. His wife of 45 years, Mary, and their three children and four grandchildren have given him a unique perspective about adaptability and passion – one that’s just as important as the professional skills he gained from previous employers, such as Lens Crafters, Burger King and McDonald’s. Those experiences took him around the world, including living in Miami, Chicago, Charlotte, Spain, England and Chile. Along the journey, he embraced change that came from each move, and it gave him a global perspective that still shapes how he leads today; a preference for not leading from the top down, but by listening, collaborating and treating people the way he would want to be treated.
The pressure to keep up Bojangles’ growth momentum is not fading, and Jose wouldn’t have it any other way. He still sees the opportunities within the brand, and it still excites him to see what’s on the expansion horizon – a horizon that will have audiences everywhere saying, “It’s Bo Time!”