Home Original Chicken Co. Ltd ( simplified Chinese: 老乡鸡集团; traditional Chinese: 老鄉雞集團; pinyin: Lǎoxiāng jī jítuán "Hometown Chicken") is a Chinese fast food chain headquartered in Hefei, Anhui. [1]
Shu Congxuan ( simplified Chinese: 束从轩; traditional Chinese: 束從軒) founded the company and, as of 2013, is its director. As of that year, it was the largest fast-food company in Anhui Province. [2] As of 2015, the company has over 240 restaurants in Anhui. [3]
Shu Congxuan, a chicken breeder, decided to start a fast food chain after attending a three-day course in 1999. [2] the company was established in 2003. [4] The chain was originally called FEIXI The Old Hens [ sic] (肥西老母鸡; Féixī lǎo mǔjī " Feixi Old Hens"), after an Anhui dish. [2] The full corporate name in Chinese was 安徽肥西老母鸡集团, and the company previously had its headquarters in the New Cityscape Plaza (新都会购物广场; Xīndūhuì Gòuwùguǎngchǎng) shopping mall in Hefei. [5] [6] By 2011 the Anhui-area authorities designated the restaurant chain as a "Prestigious Chinese Brand". [4] It later moved its headquarters to another place in Hefei. [7]
In 2011 a consulting firm suggested that the restaurant chain change its name. It suggested using a three character name since a five-character name would be lengthy. [4] The change was also made because Chinese from other provinces were unfamiliar with the old name. The chain received its current name in March 2012. [2] There was an initial outcry when the names of the locations were changed, but the company continued its success after the name change. [4]