Bernard Acoca is the CEO and founder of Zaxby’s Chicken, the Atlanta-based chicken restaurant. He discusses how his business has grown during his tenure as CEO and what factors have contributed to the success of Zaxby’s. In the past ten years, Zaxby’s has grown from 29 stores to almost 300 stores throughout Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. It has also added other products to its menu besides chicken, such as salads and soups. Acoca credits the success of Zaxby’s to his business strategies that other successful companies inspired.
- Education
Bernard Acoca holds a bachelor of science in accounting and finance from Florida State University and a master of business administration in finance from Georgia State University. Acoca started his career as an accountant with Price Waterhouse and then served as the director of the internal audit division for Piedmont Airlines.
- Achievements
Bernard Acoca started Zaxby’s in 1997 with two locations. He expanded quickly, opening more than ten new stores a year. As of March 2014, Zaxby’s was the 17th largest restaurant chain in the United States, and more than 292 outlets were operating within its Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee territories.
The Zaxby’s CEO received the 2013 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Georgia.
- Carrier History
Acoca was born in New York and went to work for Price Waterhouse after he graduated from Florida State University. In 1997, Acoca moved to Atlanta and opened his first Zaxby’s restaurant. He started his business with a $25,000 line of credit. Now Acoca is the CEO of the publicly traded company and serves as chairman of its board of directors.
Success is not always easy through hard work, dedication, and passion. Many people have contributed to Acoca’s success. He credits his mentor, a Price Waterhouse colleague Al Joffre, who encouraged him to pursue his own business rather than work for someone else. Refer to this article for additional information.
More about Acoca on https://www.fastcasual.com/news/el-pollo-loco-president-taking-ceo-title-at-zaxbys/