12/28/2025
(LISTEN): PFS Brands founder Shawn Burcham appears on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" | A company headquartered in mid-Missouri’s Holts Summit has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the nation for nine straight years. The company is PFS Brands, the parent company of Champs Chicken, Hangar 54 Pizza and Cooper’s Express. Company founder and chief executive officer Shawn Burcham joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” The company credits its rapid growth to a company culture that thrives on making retailers successful. Mr. Burcham tells listeners that his company has a concept that can grow across the country. He credits hiring great people for the company’s success, emphasizing the importance of integrity. “We service 42, 43 states now. The only states we’re not in is the far northeast sector and Hawaii,” Burcham says. He notes the company’s humble beginnings, noting Champs Chicken started selling chicken breading out of a garage in southwest Missouri’s Willard. Mr. Burcham says Champs Chicken now sells in about 400 locations. While Burcham was born in Columbia, he grew up in southeast Missouri’s Farmington. He describes Farmington as a great town and a great place to grow up. He earned his college degree from Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University) in Springfield. Mr. Burcham got his start in the food business as an intern at Mid-America Dairymen in Springfield, now known as Dairy Farmers of America:
The Inside Columbia Show is a weekly public affairs radio program that features conversations with the newsmakers associated with the events and headlines of the week. Every show will feature in-depth interviews and analysis from the movers and shakers.
