Slim Chickens Debuts Airport Location in Istanbul, Turkey 

06/26/2023
Fast-casual restaurant brand seeks to expand footprint with flexible formats

Slim Chickens has opened its first unit in Turkey, a new unit at the Istanbul airport.

The Fayetteville, Ark.-based fast-casual company said the restaurant is operated by the Boparan Restaurant Group and Ulus.

Related: At 20, Slim Chickens is all grown up- and ready for exponential growth. 

The brand is known for its cooked-to-order chicken tenders, 17 sauce flavors and Southern hospitality. The Istanbul airport, which replaced smaller ones, was inaugurated in October 2018.

“We have been anticipating this opening for a long time now and are thrilled to share our southern recipe with residents and travelers alike in the Istanbul airport,” said Jackie Lobdell, vice president of franchise development at Slim Chickens. “We are grateful for our partnership with reputable operating groups like Boparan Restaurant Group and Ulus who continue to spread our name in more communities across the globe.”

The chicken brand has inked more than 50 new development deals, with more than 34 openings and 10 new territories, including Turkey, Nevada, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The brand, in franchise documentation, said it has average unit volumes of more than $3.8 million.

“We had big goals heading into 2023, and as we continue to hit milestones such as opening in the world’s largest airport and in new markets like Nevada and Indiana, we couldn’t be prouder,” said Lobdell in a statement.

Slim Chickens, founded in 2003, has more than 235 locations.

Link to read the full story in Nation’s Restaurant News here- LINK