Church’s to expand into RussiaChurch’s to expand into Russia

ATLANTA Church's Chicken said it has signed a deal to open 25 to 30 units under its Texas Chicken brand name in Russia over the next three years.

The deal is with European Active Corp., Moscow-based operator of the Pizza di Poma chain, company executives said. The first restaurant is scheduled to open in Moscow.

The Texas Chicken name is used in some of Church’s overseas markets because of confusion over the use of “Church” in its usual identification. The chain was founded by George Church in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952.

The chain’s first Russian unit will be in the Shchyolkovo shopping mall; a second is planned for St. Petersburg.

The company said it plans to open units in the former Soviet republics of Belarus and Ukraine as well.