How to Franchise a Restaurant
Learn how to franchise a restaurant by building systems, protecting your brand, choosing franchisees, and supporting consistent long-term growth successfully.
May 29, 2026
Learn how to franchise a restaurant by building systems, protecting your brand, choosing franchisees, and supporting consistent long-term growth successfully.
May 29, 2026
Learn how Father's Day promotions, menus, reservations, marketing, and staff training increase restaurant sales while protecting margins and improving performance.
Jun 1, 2026
McDonald’s unveiled McDonald’s Next, a new strategy focused on menu improvements, technology investments, restaurant upgrades and hospitality.
Jun 2, 2026
Explore the operational secrets and business strategy behind Monty's Good Burgers, a trailblazing vegan restaurant in Los Angeles. Discover how culinary innovation, consistent quality, and strategic customer engagement redefine plant-based dining.
Jun 2, 2026
Dutch Bros delivered one of the strongest quarterly performances in its history during Q1 2026, with a 31% revenue increase, 8.3% same-store sales growth, and unaided brand awareness that has more than doubled in 18 months driven by mobile ordering, food menu expansion, loyalty upgrades, and aggressive market density building.
Jun 1, 2026
Fuel costs are emerging as one of the more unpredictable financial pressures facing quick-service restaurant operators running through supply chains, delivery economics, and consumer spending behavior in ways that are harder to anticipate and manage than traditional cost inputs like food and labor.
Jun 1, 2026
Chipotle is quietly testing a new Crispy Chicken protein option in select California restaurants, marking a potential shift in the chain's menu strategy as it looks to accelerate innovation and tap into one of the fastest-growing food categories in the restaurant industry.
Jun 1, 2026
Red Robin has sold 30 company-owned restaurants in Washington and Western Idaho to multi-unit operator Evergreen Dining for $23.5 million in cash, using the proceeds to pay down debt and fund its First Choice turnaround plan as the chain continues to reshape its ownership structure.
Jun 1, 2026
Operators share how to scale: trust the brand’s playbook, plan people, invest early, and navigate the Hell Zone as multi-unit growth accelerates into 2026.
May 31, 2026
Red Lobster will close its 5 Times Square flagship on June 14, 2026, citing construction and office-to-residential conversion; staff offered transfers and pay.
May 31, 2026
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Explore the steady growth and expansion of Chicken Salad Chick through franchising agreements, market target strategies, and its position in the competitive chicken category.
Photo by Toby Schumacher
Chicken Salad Chick has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, evident from its expansion rate detailed in its franchise disclosure document. With a steady increase in the number of units, the chain has successfully added stores in multiple states, reaching a milestone of 300 stores by late May. The company's projection to open 42 franchised units in 2025 underlines its commitment to further expansion.
A significant portion of Chicken Salad Chick's growth has been attributed to franchising agreements. The chain's strategic move to sign agreements in new Midwestern markets and launch its first store in Kansas showcases its proactive approach to market penetration. Mark Verges, the brand's vice president of franchise development, has highlighted the growth opportunities in key markets like New York, New Jersey, and the Southwest, setting the stage for continued expansion.
Photo by Toby Schumacher
Chicken Salad Chick stands out in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) landscape due to its unique preparation of chicken, setting it apart from traditional offerings. The brand's menu innovation has resonated well with customers, establishing a niche for itself in the competitive food market. Despite facing stiff competition, especially in the chicken category, Chicken Salad Chick's distinct menu has contributed to its growth and brand identity.
Photo by Toby Schumacher
The broader expansion of the chicken category has seen various players like Raising Cane's, Bojangles, and Zaxbys making strategic moves to capture market share. Raising Cane's surpassing KFC's sales and Bojangles targeting new markets like New York indicate the intense competition within the chicken segment. Zaxbys' focus on states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey underscores the evolving dynamics in this competitive space.
Photo by Toby Schumacher
While Chicken Salad Chick has demonstrated revenue growth with an increase in its Average Unit Volume (AUV), the chain trails behind some of its counterparts in the franchised chicken chains segment. Comparing AUV figures from respective Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), Bojangles, Zaxbys, and Jollibee command higher revenue figures, reflecting the competitive landscape and potential areas for Chicken Salad Chick's strategic development.