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Slim Chickens turns 20 this year, and it’s safe to say the chicken-tenders concept that was started by two friends in Fayetteville, Ark., is all grown up. The company now has over 200 locations open, mostly in the South, with 1,100 restaurants in various stages of development.
Chief operating officer Sam Rothschild joined founders Tom Gordon and Greg Smart a little over nine years ago as the company was opening its ninth restaurant. At the time, Slim Chickens was just starting to franchise and generated about $12 million in annual revenue.
“This year, we’ll eclipse over half a billion,” Rothschild said during a recent interview.
Also in that time, the company has gone from one franchise group to 65, and seven support center employees to over 65. Rothschild attributes this swift clip to Slim Chickens’ core product — hand-breaded, Southern-style, buttermilk-marinated chicken tenders.
“The foundation of our core product, which is the specialty chicken category — there weren’t many people out there doing what we do. There was a tremendous amount of white space and for us, we had a lot of confidence,” he said.
That confidence came from more than just its signature product, however. Once the company began ramping up its growth, it expanded its menu to include wings and craft chicken sandwiches, salads, wraps, chicken and waffles and mason jar desserts. Also, its atmosphere is unique, which Rothschild says helps the concept stand out amid an increasingly crowded space.
“We are a restaurant where people enjoy coming in and hanging out. We have great music — blues, Southern rock. We have televisions where you can watch sports,” Rothschild said. “We call the environment contemporary Southern. And people are enjoying themselves. They are there to share a meal and have some fun — not typically what you get in QSR/fast casual experience, and I think that’s a differentiated experience for us.”
That said, Slim Chickens also has a strong drive-thru, to-go and third-party delivery business. The drive-thru business has always generated more than 50% of the chain’s sales mix, while its delivery and curbside business ramped up during Covid. The company had an app and online ordering prior to the onset of the pandemic, so curbside was added relatively quickly.
“I think that gave us a strategic advantage over some of our competitors because they were behind the 8-ball,” Rothschild said. “All of those to-go parts of the business grew exponentially.”
And when dine-in traffic returned, the company’s to-go business actually increased.
“What happened was all boats rose and our average restaurant volumes in the last year and a half have gone up exponentially,” Rothschild said.
Slim Chickens’ AUVs are now around $3.8 million, driven by strong performances from its new restaurant openings and customer retention, which Rothschild calls “significant.” He attributes this retention to having proven operators, an efficient building, resonate marketing, well-positioned locations, and the quality of the food — “which is what we stand on the most.”
That said, Rothschild doesn’t ignore the confluence of challenges hindering the restaurant industry, and Slim Chickens has not been immune. The company is comp-positive on sales, but down a little on traffic, for instance. That said, the chain’s average consumer is higher income, which has provided some insulation.
Challenges aside, Rothschild expects the brand’s tailwinds to continue and, in the near-term, the company plans to open one restaurant or more a week this year.
“We’re not fighting burgers and pizzas and sandwiches, which have a lot of big players [and are] really saturated. This better chicken category, there’s still a lot of white space. … I see a very long runway for us,” Rothschild said. “As long as the topline sales keep moving, the business model works, our current franchisees will build more restaurants and we’re continuing to attract more franchisees. We’re going to continue to stay very focused and do what we do and get better at what we do.”
Link to the full story here: https://bit.ly/3JmSJ9f Top Chicken Franchises to Buy in 2023
Turn your fried chicken obsession into a business by buying into one of the top chicken franchises.
03/07/2023
Although trends, especially in the food industry, typically die down over time, one market garnered so much popularity, it became its own franchise category: chicken. Popularity skyrocketed in 2019 during the “chicken sandwich wars,” when Popeyes released a new fried chicken sandwich that was relatively unknown until Chick-fil-A touted its sandwich as the original. Not only did Popeyes and Chick-fil-A see an increase in revenue, but other concepts also began introducing their own competing chicken products to the point where some franchises are committed to chicken alone. If you’re a fan of fried chicken — or any chicken — or simply want to jump into an exciting industry that continues to expand, a chicken franchise might be right for you.
These are the top 12 chicken franchises for 2023, based on our 44th Annual Franchise 500 List.
4. Slim Chickens
Number of U.S. franchise units: 126
Whether it is chicken tenders, wings, or wraps, the mission of Slim Chickens is to serve the best hand-breaded chicken using the freshest ingredients. Since its inception in 2003, the foundation for Slim Chickens has always been serving customers the best meals with 100 percent all-natural premium tenderloins.
Slim Chickens strives to be known to go above and beyond in creating its food. Slim Chickens franchise locations serve main course chicken meals with side dishes including southern-fried pickles or fried mushrooms. Customers might want to save room for delicious strawberry cheesecake and chocolate brownie desserts. As a fun change of pace, all items are typically served in mason jars.
Link to the full story ranking here: LINK
Breakthrough Better-Chicken Brand Receives Notable Ranking in Both Entrepreneur and Franchise Business Review Magazine
February 10, 2023 // Franchising.com // FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Slim Chickens has been named in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® list as well as in Franchise Business Review’s 2023 Top Franchise list, which are both considered the world’s best and most comprehensive franchise rankings. The brand achieved a spot in the top 23% in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® list and ranked 27th overall in the Top 50 Midsize category in Franchise Business Review’s list. This year also marks Slim Chickens’ fourth-consecutive year on the Franchise 500® list. The recognition received by Slim Chickens highlights the successes accomplished by the brand in 2022.
“Being named a top brand in two of the largest franchise publications is an incredible honor,” said Jackie Lobdell, vice president of franchise development at Slim Chickens. “We’ve seen outstanding growth in 2022 and have no intention of slowing down that momentum in 2023. I am more than excited to see where the year of development takes us and look forward to providing our southern comfort food to Slimthusiasts across the world.”
There are several key factors that go into the Entrepreneur Franchise 500® evaluation, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order. Being placed as 115th and in the top 23% of franchises on the list highlights the successful year Slim Chickens had, including the opening of 50 new locations across the world.
Franchise Business Review’s Top 2023 Franchise list provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Slim Chickens was among over 360 franchise brands, representing nearly 38,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research. The brand’s franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training & support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity.
“We have spent a lot of time and investment in the people that enable us to do this,” says COO Sam Rothschild. “We understand what it takes to support our franchisees and we have the systems and processes in place to do so. We are honored to have the quality of franchisees that we have today and are eager to continue the momentum. There is still a lot of opportunity in the U.S. to grow with Slim Chickens and we have started to open in Michigan, Wisconsin, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Not only are we rapidly expanding domestically but we are thrilled to continue to enter new markets abroad as well through our ongoing internal support processes.
With hundreds of thousands of happy customers, the brand has developed a strong devoted fanbase, also known as “Slimthusiasts,” helping to fuel demand for the hand-breaded, cooked-to-order tenders. Slim Chickens has distinguished itself in the “better chicken” segment by offering high-quality food and 17 house-made dipping sauces, allowing customers to enjoy a different flavor profile with each visit. Its menu is broader than many in the category, offering chicken tenders, fresh salads, sandwiches, chicken and waffles, chicken wings and unique side items. Fans also resonate with the southern contemporary look and feel and the open and inviting layout of Slim Chickens restaurants, which speak to the hospitality mindset that anchors the brand.
To view Slim Chickens in the full ranking in both publications, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500 or https://franchisebusinessreview.com/lists/top-franchises/.
For more information on the Slim Chickens franchise opportunity, visit slimchickensfranchise.com.
About Slim Chickens
Slim Chickens, a leading fast casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-through in the better-chicken segment, opened in 2003 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Offering high-quality food with a focus on fresh, delicious ingredients, the brand prides itself on its southern flair and commitment to hospitality, all in a fast-casual setting. Food is cooked to order, and the differentiated menu features chicken tenders, fresh salads, sandwiches, chicken and waffles, chicken wings and unique side items, alongside 17 house-made dipping sauces.
Today, there are more than 200 Slim Chickens locations open and 1,100 restaurants in development.
For more information on the Slim Chickens franchise opportunity, visit slimchickensfranchise.com.
To read the full story on Franchising.com click here: http://bit.ly/3lnerBE
September 4,2022
FAYETTEVILLE — Slim Chickens continues to expand its footprint nationwide with its restaurants moving into new markets even as the industry as a whole faces ongoing challenge from inflation and worker shortages.
The Fayetteville-based fast casual chicken restaurant chain said it obtained 120 new development agreements this year. That puts the company with more than 1,100 restaurants in various stages of planning.
In 2022 Slim Chickens has opened more than 35 spots in 11 new markets. In total, the chain has opened more than 185 locations in 30 states. It also has an overseas presence, with 27 locations in the United Kingdom.
The chain’s average unit volume in 2021, which equates roughly to revenue, is almost $2.5 million per restaurant, a new record. For the chain’s high-volume locations, that figure rises to $3.8 million, a nearly 14% increase compared with the year-ago period.
Slim Chickens was founded in 2003 and is privately owned. Ten stores in Northwest Arkansas are owned and run by the company while the remaining locations are franchise operations.
Slim Chickens competes in the fast-casual segment, where restaurants provide a slightly more formal dining experience compared with fast-food operations. While fast-casual restaurants don’t have a wait staff, servers generally carry food to tables.
Sam Rothschild, chief operations officer for Slim Chickens, said in a recent interview that business is strong and the chain is seeing success in new markets as well as in areas where the brand is well known.
Rothschild said drive-thru, delivery and meal pickup, all areas that the chain saw grow during the pandemic are all still key elements but added the chain is seeing customers return to its restaurants for sit-down dining.
Read the full story in Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette here: https://bit.ly/3I7YKac
March 15, 2022
Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise in the better-chicken segment, has opened its newest restaurant — and its first in North Carolina — at 5535 Prosperity Ridge Rd. in Charlotte. Seasoned restaurant group Break Bread Ventures is at the helm of the deal.
“We are so excited to open our first location in North Carolina,” says Jackie Lobdell, vice president of franchise development at Slim Chickens. “Partnering with talented and passionate operating groups like Break Bread Ventures makes adding Slim Chickens to new communities across the country easy — we can’t wait for everyone in Charlotte to get a taste of Slims!”
Slim Chickens first opened in 2003 in Fayetteville, Ark. Today, there are more than 155 Slim Chickens locations open and 800 restaurants in development. The brand recently launched a strategic multi-unit franchise growth initiative to reach 600 units in 10 years. For more information, visit www.slimchickensfranchise.com.
Read the full story is in Retail & Restaurant here: https://bit.ly/3tf1E5G
7/20/21
Slim Chickens, a fast-casual franchisor in the better chicken segment of the industry, is celebrating a strong 2021 so far with 254 multi-unit franchise agreements inked since January.
The brand has also opened 17 new locations this year, with plans for a further 35 before 2022.
“We knew we’d have a good year, but this year is on track to be one of the best yet,” said vice president of franchise development, Jackie Lobdell. “The chicken segment is exploding, and our leadership team, training, resources and franchisee validation continue to grab the attention of highly qualified restaurant operators who want to be a part of our story.”
Since the pandemic began in March 2020, Slim Chickens has achieved 14 per cent positive comp store sales growth, as well as systemwide revenue growth of over 35 per cent.
It has expanded into multiple new markets with its latest signings, including Alabama, Texas, Ohio, Missouri, Florida, Tennessee, Colorado, and Virginia.
Founded in 2003, Slim Chickens currently operates more than 130 locations and has over 600 restaurants in development. This positions the brand well on track to achieve its goal of 700 units in 10 years.
This full article is online here: https://bit.ly/2To96MR.
Nov 23, 2021
Slim Chickens Development Co., a fast-casual franchisor, has signed several recent developments that will expand the 151-unit Slim Chickens chain, which features dine-in and drive-thru.
The company in November
announced a deal for 10
locations in the Dallas area, with franchisees Farouk Jamal and Ali Poonja, after a 32-unit deal in September for cities in Arizona with Barnett Management Co.
Atlanta-based investment firm 10 Point Capital bought a significant stake in the Fayetteville, Ark. Based Slim Chickens concept in 2019, when it had just over 80 units. Jackie Lobdell, Slim Chickens’ vice president of franchise development, said in an interview, said, “Slim Chickens is in the better-chicken segment and specializes in chicken tenders and fries at our core.
“We focus on food,” she said. “We’re all about the food. we started in Fayetteville, Ark., 2003. We started franchising about eight years ago.”
Of the brand’s current 151 restaurants, nine of them are company-owned, Lobdell said. Lobdell said the brand seeks seasoned restaurant operators as franchisees, especially among franchisees of other brands that are looking to diversify into the chicken segment.
The pandemic and supply-chain issues did stall some development this year, she said. “We had planned this year for 45 to 50” new restaurants. “I think we’re going to be closer to between 40 and 45,” Lobdell said. “So it did have an effect, but we’re full steam ahead.”
Slim Chickens tenders are offered with a choice from among 17 dipping sauces. The brand is also known for its desserts offering in Mason jars.
The brand this fall opened its larges campus location at Liberty University I Lynchburg, Va.
“That is one of our largest campus locations,” Lobdell said. “It’s actually a freestanding building but on campus property and interestingly enough the president of Sodexo … went out to take a look at it because our numbers were so high.”
For the full story in Nation’s Restaurant News click here: https://bit.ly/3CY93rK
On the rise to fame? Possibly.
01/05/2023
2. Slim Chickens 
Co-founded in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2003 by Tom Gordon and Greg Smart, Slim
Chickens didn’t start franchising until 2013. A whole lot has changed since then, with the chicken chain bringing in $265 million in system sales between 2019-2021. Today, there are over 140 Slim Chickens locations. “There are a lot of things that are the same. I still feel so responsible for all 8,000 people that work for the brand,” Gordon adds. “It’s nice to be in a position of financial strength versus scrambling for the first decade. That’s allowed us to do a lot of great things for our company, our franchisees.” Gordon was also asked about his approach to sustainable expansion: “Because we’re not as big as some of our competitors, we have to go fast. We have to go as fast as we possibly can without taking big risks. And how do you balance speed and giant risk? It’s with using data, utilizing franchisee intel, utilizing local professionals.”
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