Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the Soon to be Famous™ chicken finger franchise, provides a unique offering to both its franchisees and guests. Layne’s is not only a part of the booming chicken segment but already has a longstanding loyal following due to its simple-to-execute, iconic menu and unique company culture. 

“Chicken will always be in demand; that’s why the market and the segment have been exploding. There are a lot of competitors, and everybody brings something to the table,” said COO Samir Wattar. “What we bring to the table is our history. There’s something to be said about ‘Texas-born and breaded.’”

Its established history and fan-favorite menu are just some of the reasons Layne’s is poised to win in the quick-service chicken segment and is well on its way to having 50 locations across the nation by 2025.

Innovating with the Times

As a brand that has been open since 1994, Layne’s knows how to stay true to its core while also keeping with the times. For example, it introduced the spicy tender in January to meet the growing demand for spicy options, and the launch was a huge success. Executives projected the new menu addition would account for between 10 to 12% of sales at the time — but the results were even better. The spicy chicken accounted for 20 to 21% of sales.

“We are targeting both a new, younger consumer that likes spicy foods, but also our existing customer,” Wattar noted. “If they give us an extra visit on their cycle because we have a different flavor now, that’s a win. We have people who used to come bi-weekly, and now they come every week because of the variety.”

Keeping It Simple

While Layne’s offers a few sides, like fries and potato salad, the brand remains almost entirely dedicated to its namesake entree: chicken fingers. This operational simplicity allows franchisees to maintain streamlined operations with low overhead and minimal staffing requirements. 

“The simplicity of our operating model is one of the things franchisees mention most often when we ask what drew them to Layne’s,” said Wattar. “We had two franchisee groups join last year who said they loved the food and branding, but it wasn’t until they saw and experienced the kitchen and saw first hand how streamlined and simple the operations are that they were convinced to invest.”

Combatting Rising Costs

As prices for products and the cost of labor continue to rise, many companies have had to reevaluate operations. However, the executives at Layne’s worked diligently to develop a financial plan that helps support franchisees during tough economic times while keeping pricing fair. 

“We looked at our profit and loss statement and figured out how many labor hours you'll need for every dollar in sales. Then we developed systems to manage productivity to keep in line with our targets,” said Wattar. “We've taught franchisees to combat high commodity prices and taught our managers to manage prime costs and how to curb overhead costs for things like chemicals and utilities.”

While Layne’s has had to make a small price increase to adjust for inflation, it was sure not to price itself out of the market and refused to decrease portion sizes. 

Customer Loyalty

Layne’s loyal customers keep coming back time and time again. 

Since opening on the Texas A&M campus more than 30 years ago, the franchise has been a Texas favorite. Since then, the brand has become a thriving chain with a dedicated customer base. In fact, many of Layne's franchisees were fans first. 

“So many of our franchisees say they joined our brand because they loved the brand first and foremost,” said Wattar. “They tried it and realized they’d found something special.”

Franchise opportunities range from $656,000–$1,280,500, with different buildout options available. Learn more about franchising here.

ABOUT LAYNE'S CHICKEN FINGERS

Founded in 1994 in College Station, the original location became a Texas A&M legend known for its small-town charm, friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. While opening corporate locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the leadership team focused on fine-tuning its operations and starting to franchise.  Now, the company is planning to bring Layne’s Soon to be Famous™ Chicken Fingers to the rest of the world with plans to open 100 locations by the next four years.