Meet the Zor: Layne’s Chicken Fingers COO Samir Wattar

Samir Wattar, a restaurant franchising veteran of some 15 years, has been the Chief Operating Officer of Layne’s Chicken Fingers*, the Soon to be Famous™ fried chicken concept, since 2021. He recently spoke with 1851 Founder, Publisher and CEO Nick Powills during his regular podcast, “Meet the Zor.”  

Wattar brings extensive leadership experience from the hospitality industry, having previously held senior management positions in renowned restaurant chains and fast-food brands. His expertise in operations management, customer service and franchise development has been instrumental in driving Layne’s Chicken Fingers' expansion and success in the competitive chicken market.

“In my mind, there's two different kinds of franchisees,” said Wattar. “There is the dreamer franchisee where he is very successful in his own field, has a great job and always dreamt of owning his own business. And there is a franchisee that’s an investor who has other brands and wants to expand his portfolio. Every one of them is different. And that's where I believe I made the difference — I understood those two.” 

Wattar provided insights into the strategic vision behind Layne's Chicken Fingers' growth trajectory, discussing the company’s innovative marketing strategies, and commitment to maintaining quality standards while scaling operations. He also shared his perspective on franchisee relations, operational efficiency and the brand's plans for future expansion into new territories.

You can watch and listen to the entire interview above, or on YouTube.