Dive Brief:
- Chicken Salad Chick has signed a 25-unit franchise development deal covering upstate New York, including the Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Albany markets, according to a Wednesday press release.
- The deal is the brand’s biggest in terms of unit count, and will bring its Southern-inspired menu to cities as far north as the Canadian border, helping to set the stage for expansion in other Northern markets, like New York City and New England.
- The brand is still selling franchise territories downstate and in New Jersey.
Dive Insight:
The company called the franchise deal “a significant first entry into New York's development,” and that it was an important step towards building a presence in the Northeast. Last year, the brand announced New York and New Jersey, along with the Southwest, were major strategic markets for franchising.
Recent franchising deals have helped the chain expand beyond its Southern core region. In February, the chain announced a deal to open six stores in Nevada. Late last year, it signed several deals in the Midwest that would increase its density in the region. The brand hit the 300-unit mark roughly a year ago, and it now says it has more than 330 restaurants and a 300-store development pipeline, according to the press release.
In April, the chain hired Brian Lindley, a former Popeyes development exec, to lead its franchised development. The brand also said it has seen increased interest from millennial and Gen Z restaurant operators, who are drawn to the combination of stability and autonomy offered by a franchised restaurant.
