Eye on Franchising: Get a Piece of the Chicken Legacy Now With Alex Fanning and Tom Gerdes of Southern Classic Chicken

Southern Classic Chicken, the Louisiana-based fried chicken franchise, was featured in a recent episode of the popular franchising industry podcast Eye on Franchising. 

Chief Development Officer Alex Fanning and Vice President of Brand Operations Tom Gerdes spoke about their involvement in the company and what makes their chicken so popular. 

“Here in Northern Louisiana, this brand is a cult and everyone knows about it,” Gerdes said on the podcast. “This is the best chicken I’ve ever tasted and, in my humble opinion, it is the best option out there.”

“You start with a great product, serve it as fast as possible and as fresh as possible,” said Fanning on the podcast. “That is really our core to success.”

The duo also dove into the franchise process and the involvement that goes into running a Southern Classic Chicken. Gerdes has been with Southern Classic Chicken since 2021 and has served as Vice President of Brand Operations since March 2022. Fanning has been with Southern Classic Chicken since 1999 and is one of the brand's Founding Partners. 

Southern Classic Chicken remains deeply rooted in its family-oriented foundation, a legacy that began with the Fanning family and has since grown into a beloved regional brand. This family-centric approach extends to the franchise model, with a focus on partnering with like-minded entrepreneurs who share the brand's values and passion for quality.

With plans to open new franchise locations in 2024 and a focus on multi-unit development, the brand aims to leverage its compelling average unit volume (AUV), new revamped design and proven business model to attract potential investors in states like Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.

Listen to the full podcast here.

To learn more, visit: https://southernclassicchickenfranchise.com/