1851 Franchise’s Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises of 2026: Layne’s Chicken Fingers

• Brand: Layne’s Chicken Fingers*
• Number of Units: 40
• Initial Investment Range: $451,500 - $1,050,000
• ROI Potential: $1,983,256 (average gross revenue for traditional franchised restaurants in 2024)
• Units Sold Last Year: 40 new units awarded
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Layne’s Chicken Fingers has officially earned a place on 1851 Franchise’s 2026 Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises list — a recognition that highlights brands shaping the future of franchising through innovation, momentum and strong demand. As interest from franchisees continues to climb, Layne’s is entering a pivotal phase of expansion.

“We’ve spent the last few years building a support team that rivals those of brands ten times our size,” said CEO Garrett Reed. “When we began franchising, we knew we wanted to build a partnership model that would support Layne’s franchisees as we become a household name nationwide. Now, we’re seeing the results of that preparation in the form of rapid growth, successful franchisees and growing interest from prospective owners.”

History and Origin Story

Layne’s started as a small-town chicken shop in 1994 in College Station, Texas. Thanks to its excellent chicken fingers (and even better guest service), it quickly became an institution for Texas A&M students who craved the straightforward menu and laid-back atmosphere.

When Reed and his partners first invested in Layne’s, they had a vision to take it national, but they knew it would require careful planning to maintain the brand’s integrity and protect the culture. After years of preparation, digging into the intricacies of the brand and creating and systemizing processes built for scale, Layne’s launched its franchise opportunity.

“We knew we had lightning in a bottle with the product and the guest experience,” Reed said. “Our job was to package that up in a way that would allow a franchisee, whether in Texas, Wisconsin or Utah, to replicate it perfectly. We stayed true to our roots while laying a foundation for scale.”

Why the Franchise Stands Out

In the crowded chicken segment, Layne’s stands out by focusing on doing one thing and doing it better than its competitors. While other brands complicate menus and operations with a range of menu items, diversifying to include things like bone-in wings, wraps, sandwiches, nuggets and more, Layne’s chose what it was good at (chicken fingers) and has worked to become great at it.

This simplicity keeps costs low and allows franchise owners to keep operations going, driving high-revenue days with relative ease and creating additional capacity for team members to focus on customer service.

“The beauty of Layne’s is in its simplicity,” said Chief Operating Officer Samir Wattar. “We don’t have hundreds of SKUs to manage. We focus on premium chicken tenders, fries and our secret sauce. This allows our franchisees to focus on what matters most: speed of service and treating the guest like family.”

System Growth and 2026 Momentum

In the past year, Layne’s has seen rapid growth, signing multiple major franchise agreements and breaking into new states. In 2025, Layne’s awarded 40 total units and opened 21. It had multiple openings on the same day, and it nearly sold out its home state of Texas.

As it jumps into 2026 growth, Layne’s is targeting expansion in Colorado, Wyoming, the Carolinas, Florida, Oklahoma and Virginia. Still, it’s focused on careful growth. While Layne’s has identified high-caliber entrepreneurs seeking multi-unit expansion, the leadership team is not signing deals just to boost its total awarded unit count. It is seeking experienced operators who are aligned with the Layne’s model and committed to protecting the brand and maintaining the magic that makes Layne’s special.

“We’re growing aggressively but responsibly,” Reed said. “We’ve sold out some initial territories and are now planting flags in strategic markets nationwide. We’ve seen tremendous demand from experienced multi-unit operators who see Layne’s as the ideal addition to their portfolios, and we’re leveraging that interest to grow healthily.”

Why Now Is the Moment for Franchisees

The chicken market is booming and continues to grow, but for many major brands, key markets are already claimed. Layne’s has a ground-floor opportunity with a strong history and the cult-like following of a legacy player.

Franchisees joining Layne’s now will have the agility and territory availability of a growing brand with the leadership expertise and support infrastructure of a sold-out national concept.

“There are very few opportunities to buy into a brand with the level of history, unit economics and territory availability,” Wattar said. “For sophisticated operators, Layne’s offers an opportunity to secure a prime market and be a part of an incredible growth story.”

Looking Ahead

This year, Layne’s is focused on its continued commitment to smart growth, partnering with the right franchisees who fit the culture — not just chasing a number. The brand is also consistently working to build out its leadership and support teams, ensuring that, as unit count and average unit volumes increase, the guest and franchisee experiences remain seamless.

“This is the year Layne’s will become a household name outside of Texas,” Reed said. “We’re bringing the best chicken fingers in the world to new communities, and we’re doing it with franchisees who love this brand as much as we do.”

Stay tuned throughout the rest of the month for 1851 Franchise's full Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises series to explore the other innovative brands making waves in the industry.