London Calling! What’s Next for Dave’s Hot Chicken?

If we told you everything, you might not believe it! Dave’s Hot Chicken closed 2024 with a jaw-dropping seven new restaurant openings in a single day! That brought our total to a record-breaking 81 new locations for the year.

The numbers speak for themselves: Dave’s is one of the fastest-growing brands in the game, blending A-list partnerships and social media savviness with massive expansion in 2025.

And the Winner Is…

Dave’s Hot Chicken! We earned some serious recognition that proved Dave’s place as a leader in the industry:

• Listed as #2 on @Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers List.
• Recognized in @Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 & a Top New and Emerging Franchise lists.
• Named one of @Nation’s Restaurant News’ Top 500 Restaurants.
• Celebrated on @Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 and Culture 100 lists.
• Named a 2024 Best Brand to Work For by @QSR.
• Finalists for @EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Greater Los Angeles award.
• Ranked #165 on @Franchise Times’ Top 400 list.

Our leadership team also turned heads:

• President & COO @Jim Bitticks joined Botrista’s advisory board.
• CMO @Brad Haley was named to @NRN’s Power List for Marketers.
• Senior Director of Marketing @Srishti V. Handa earned a spot on @AdAge’s 40 Under 40.

On the ground, Dave’s Hot Chicken celebrated bold openings like its Georgia debut, co-owned by R&B star Usher and the brand’s original franchisee group. Guests danced to an Usher-heavy playlist under the glow of a first-of-its-kind drone show which garnered 50 million media impressions and cemented Dave’s reputation as a forward-thinking, community-focused brand.

In late December, Dave’s Hot Chicken flew across the pond for its U.K. debut in London! The flagship restaurant features a stunning street art display that nods to Dave’s origins in East Hollywood and draws inspiration from the iconic Piccadilly Circus nearby, blending our humble beginnings with the rich history of our latest international home.

Fans feasted on bold menu additions like Dave’s NOT Chicken (made with fresh cauliflower), Dave’s Bites (snack-sized favorites), and Top Loaded Fries, packed with layers of flavor. These innovations brought the same unapologetic authenticity that makes every bite of Dave’s unforgettable. Plus, waves of user-generated content that may have put us in your feed.

What’s Heating Up in 2025

We’re keeping our foot on the gas with ambitious international and non-traditional development plans. First up: breaking into airport dining with the opening of the brand’s first non-traditional venture inside Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas!

International expansion is also on the horizon, with deals in motion to bring Dave’s Hot Chicken’s iconic Nashville-style heat to new markets around the globe. On the domestic front, the brand is projecting to add roughly 100+ locations annually.

Tech upgrades like partnerships with Qu and QSR Automations will streamline operations while keeping the focus on quality. Add that to franchisee tools like the brand’s custom YouTube-style training program, and Dave’s is setting the standard for fast-casual in 2025!

Mission-Driven Growth

From its humble beginnings in an East Hollywood parking lot to becoming a $61.1 billion player, Dave’s journey reflects its unwavering dedication to authenticity, simplicity, and the Nashville-style hot chicken that made the brand a household name.?

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