After building a successful multi-unit footprint with MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, brothers Josh and Luke Bergeson began looking for a new concept that would help them diversify. They wanted a brand that offered operational efficiency without sacrificing quality, and Soon to be FamousTM Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the fast-growing chicken franchise, fit the bill.
“We decided that, if we were going to be in such a saturated market, we needed to have the best chicken to be able to say we are as good as or better than everybody else in this space,” Luke said. “We did a lot of side-by-side comparisons with other chicken tender concepts, and nothing stood up to Layne’s.”
While Layne’s superior product hooked the Bergesons during the due diligence phase, the operational model is what stands out from a strategic and operational standpoint. Coming from concepts that required managing complex ticket items and diverse menus with many inventory items, Layne’s clear focus on consistent delivery of what it’s great at creating a new level of efficiency for the teams.
After what felt like a slow dinner hour during their soft opening in Janesville, Luke checked the sales figures and was stunned to see they were already at $8,000.
“I thought, ‘This is the easiest $8,000 I’ve ever seen,’” Luke said. “We’ve done $8,000 a day in other concepts, and I just couldn’t believe it. We said the same thing with 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 thousand dollars: ‘It shouldn’t be this easy.’ It almost seemed like it was too good to be true, which often is the case, but this is one of those rare instances where it has not proven to be too good to be true.”
The brand’s streamlined model is another key contributor here. At the franchisor level, Layne’s is always looking for ways to simplify operations or cut down on unnecessary steps. This, combined with strong teams at the restaurant level, keeps ticket times lower and allows operators to do $10,000-plus days without too much of a challenge.
“We focus on operations and look for a system that our team can execute well — whether it’s busy or slow,” Josh said. “Making the food and serving the guests is so streamlined, it’s hard to believe it’s that easy.”
Beyond the four walls of the restaurants, the Bergesons’ choice to scale was largely driven by a deep trust in the Layne’s team and systemwide infrastructure. Having known Layne’s chief operating officer, Samir Wattar, from prior business ventures, they were excited about the supply chain and operations expertise he brings to the group. They were also excited to see the “founder-led mentality” everyone in the system leans into.
By prioritizing franchisee profitability and brand integrity over just selling units, the Layne’s leadership team has developed a healthy system and built deep trust with owners who know there is a shared vision across all levels of the brand. This approach creates a true partnership where the franchisor is actively involved in franchisees’ success, from real estate selection to ongoing operations, and this boosted the Bergesons’ confidence even further.
As the Bergesons have solidified their presence in their community, they’ve seen just how impactful the Layne’s brand and experience has been. In Janesville, the team was expecting a challenge when a major competitor opened directly across the street, but because they had already become a part of the community and proven their speed, quality and level of service, it was a non-issue.
“Raising Cane’s opened earlier this year,” Josh said. “We knew they were coming, and we thought we were certainly going to take a hit — it was just a question of how much. But when they opened directly across the street from us, we actually ended up seeing a little bit of an increase in sales.”
Months later, the Janesville location maintains steady performance with no dip to recover from.
This resilience speaks to the deep loyalty and positive perception they’ve already built with Layne’s, particularly during the initial period of market exclusivity. As they grow, being the “first mover” to bring a new chicken concept to a local market, will continue to be a key driver of success.
With a proven product, a focused leadership team and a model that thrives even in the face of direct competition, the Bergesons are confident in the Layne’s opportunity and continue to move full steam ahead.
Following the successful launch of the Janesville restaurant, they opened another location in Appleton, and they’re currently in the process of developing additional locations in Bellevue, Oshkosh and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. In addition to the unit count increase that comes with this growth, the Bergesons are focused on bringing a trusted product to their communities while creating more opportunities for their teams.
“We’ve always said that, whatever we sell, we want to be able to stand behind it,” Luke said. “We have to be best-in-class at whatever we’re doing.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers.
Layne's Chicken Fingers
SPONSORED
Josh and Luke Bergeson are pursuing rapid growth with the chicken finger franchise because of its streamlined operations, market potential, and franchisee-first culture.
After building a successful multi-unit footprint with MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, brothers Josh and Luke Bergeson began looking for a new concept that would help them diversify. They wanted a brand that offered operational efficiency without sacrificing quality, and Soon to be FamousTM Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the fast-growing chicken franchise, fit the bill.
“We decided that, if we were going to be in such a saturated market, we needed to have the best chicken to be able to say we are as good as or better than everybody else in this space,” Luke said. “We did a lot of side-by-side comparisons with other chicken tender concepts, and nothing stood up to Layne’s.”
While Layne’s superior product hooked the Bergesons during the due diligence phase, the operational model is what stands out from a strategic and operational standpoint. Coming from concepts that required managing complex ticket items and diverse menus with many inventory items, Layne’s clear focus on consistent delivery of what it’s great at creating a new level of efficiency for the teams.
After what felt like a slow dinner hour during their soft opening in Janesville, Luke checked the sales figures and was stunned to see they were already at $8,000.
“I thought, ‘This is the easiest $8,000 I’ve ever seen,’” Luke said. “We’ve done $8,000 a day in other concepts, and I just couldn’t believe it. We said the same thing with 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 thousand dollars: ‘It shouldn’t be this easy.’ It almost seemed like it was too good to be true, which often is the case, but this is one of those rare instances where it has not proven to be too good to be true.”
The brand’s streamlined model is another key contributor here. At the franchisor level, Layne’s is always looking for ways to simplify operations or cut down on unnecessary steps. This, combined with strong teams at the restaurant level, keeps ticket times lower and allows operators to do $10,000-plus days without too much of a challenge.
“We focus on operations and look for a system that our team can execute well — whether it’s busy or slow,” Josh said. “Making the food and serving the guests is so streamlined, it’s hard to believe it’s that easy.”
Beyond the four walls of the restaurants, the Bergesons’ choice to scale was largely driven by a deep trust in the Layne’s team and systemwide infrastructure. Having known Layne’s chief operating officer, Samir Wattar, from prior business ventures, they were excited about the supply chain and operations expertise he brings to the group. They were also excited to see the “founder-led mentality” everyone in the system leans into.
By prioritizing franchisee profitability and brand integrity over just selling units, the Layne’s leadership team has developed a healthy system and built deep trust with owners who know there is a shared vision across all levels of the brand. This approach creates a true partnership where the franchisor is actively involved in franchisees’ success, from real estate selection to ongoing operations, and this boosted the Bergesons’ confidence even further.
As the Bergesons have solidified their presence in their community, they’ve seen just how impactful the Layne’s brand and experience has been. In Janesville, the team was expecting a challenge when a major competitor opened directly across the street, but because they had already become a part of the community and proven their speed, quality and level of service, it was a non-issue.
“Raising Cane’s opened earlier this year,” Josh said. “We knew they were coming, and we thought we were certainly going to take a hit — it was just a question of how much. But when they opened directly across the street from us, we actually ended up seeing a little bit of an increase in sales.”
Months later, the Janesville location maintains steady performance with no dip to recover from.
This resilience speaks to the deep loyalty and positive perception they’ve already built with Layne’s, particularly during the initial period of market exclusivity. As they grow, being the “first mover” to bring a new chicken concept to a local market, will continue to be a key driver of success.
With a proven product, a focused leadership team and a model that thrives even in the face of direct competition, the Bergesons are confident in the Layne’s opportunity and continue to move full steam ahead.
Following the successful launch of the Janesville restaurant, they opened another location in Appleton, and they’re currently in the process of developing additional locations in Bellevue, Oshkosh and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. In addition to the unit count increase that comes with this growth, the Bergesons are focused on bringing a trusted product to their communities while creating more opportunities for their teams.
“We’ve always said that, whatever we sell, we want to be able to stand behind it,” Luke said. “We have to be best-in-class at whatever we’re doing.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers.
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