When Shawn and Julie Burcham started PFSbrands, the company had three employees and operated out of a garage in Willard, Missouri. A year later, in 1999, the Burchams created the Champs Chicken concept. The first Champs Chicken location opened on April 30 of that year at Show Me Oil Co. in Auxvasse, Missouri. Ever since, their chickens have been crossing roads, highways and turnpikes all over the country.
In 2000, Shawn Burcham took a major risk by purchasing and 8.35-acre site in Holts Summit, Missouri, and building a new 5,000 square-foot office and warehouse facility. PFSbrands now employs more than 140 employee-owners and the company’s Holts Summit facility has more than 110,000 square feet.
Champs alone now has more than 350 outlets nationwide, primarily inside supermarkets and convenience stores. The brand was recently named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list. It is one of three PFSbrands’ hot food brands, alongside Cooper’s Express and BluTaco. All three are primarily distributed in the c-store and supermarket industries.
The Champs Chicken brand was built around the Burcham family’s passion for racing. The original logo featured mascot “Champ” in a racecar driving suit with a checkered racing flag. Champ is still the primary logo character.
To celebrate its racing heritage, Champs Chicken is giving away four tickets to the NASCAR race at Talladega Super Speedway on Oct. 13, 2019. Entry information is available at the Champs Chicken Facebook page. Entries will be accepted through May 20. Rules and restrictions apply.
