Strategies for Sustainable Fast-Casual Expansion

A fast-casual, fast-growing chicken concept with a simple menu, a fantastic company culture and a high degree of scalability; it's a model many hot chicken brands emulate, but few have earned the devotion of franchisees that are all-in on the brand like Dave’s Hot Chicken.

Building the House

While you can’t replicate a story like Dave’s , you do have a say in who will represent your brand. Dave’s Hot Chicken targets experienced, multi-unit restaurant operators and franchise groups to ensure that franchisees align with the brand's values and possess the expertise necessary to uphold its standards. But this process is easier said than done — why, and how does it work for Dave’s?

Let’s take a step back. When Dave’s gained momentum and opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant, founders Dave, Arman, Tommy and Gary recognized the importance of a meticulous approach to franchising. This led to the decision to prioritize seasoned operators with a proven track record in managing and growing restaurant brands, made possible by industry veteran @Bill Phelps taking on the role of CEO and co-founding Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchise Company.

Leveraging his extensive network within the restaurant industry, dating back to his tenure with Blaze Pizza and Wetzel’s Pretzels, Phelps engineered a framework backed by franchisees with the agility to open multiple locations across the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East. Phelps' robust plan and strategic systems facilitated exponential growth and ensured that Dave's Hot Chicken stayed true to its core values : Build Something Phenomenal, Remember How We Got Here, Include and Respect Our Partners, Never Give Up, and Execute, Excel and Enjoy.

In a recent interview with L.A. Business First , Dave’s Hot Chicken’s President and COO @Jim Bitticks sums it up this way: “A franchise model where you've got this many franchisees all building and opening restaurants can move very, very quickly.”

Social Media as a Growth Engine

Social media has been a catalyst for Dave’s Hot Chicken’s growth since day one — literally. Following co-founder Arman Oganesyan’s early social media prowess, Eater LA food blogger Farley Elliot posted an article titled “Late Night Hot Chicken Stand Might Blow Your Mind .” The next day, the lines wrapped around the block…and they haven’t stopped since!

Then there’s the army of social media influencers and fans alike who’ve beat the drum for Dave’s Nashville-style hot chicken sliders since it began in 2017, contributing to the brand’s 1.2 million followers on Instagram and 2.3 million on TikTok (but who’s counting?). We like to take those videos and turn them into CTV ads that bring that honesty and authenticity to the broader public – and the results speak for themselves.

Social media also ignited the connection between Dave's Hot Chicken and its latest A-list investor, Usher . Usher shared an Instagram post two years ago trying a "Reaper" level Dave’s slider, saying the heat had him "just dancing for no reason." Now, he's doubling down on his love for the brand with a multi-unit development deal in Atlanta alongside Andrew Feghali and Lawrence Kourie of our original franchisee group.

Adding even more credibility, Dave’s celebrates early investor and brand ambassador Drake's birthday by offering guests a free slider or tender, driving a substantial amount of traffic on Octobter 24 and for the weeks following.

To quote Oganesyan , “They come in as customers, we treat them like guests, and they leave as fans wanting to follow us on Instagram and TikTok.”

Setting the World on Fire

Obsessed customers and authenticity that you can taste have taken Dave’s to all four corners of the USA plus five countries abroad. Now, Dave’s Hot Chicken is giving Nashville-style a whole new meaning as demand takes our brand to even more international markets! With the rights to 900 restaurants already sold and operators continuing to add more locations to their development agreements, Dave’s is well on its way to becoming the undisputed hot chicken world leader.

Take it from our CEO and EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award?finalist Bill Phelps, “Our focus remains on making the most craveable, hottest and juiciest hot chicken on the planet, and we know if we do that, we’ll be gaining new fans everywhere we go.”

Connect with me to learn more about international multi-unit franchise opportunities with Dave’s Hot Chicken!

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