Slim Chickens Opens R&D Center at World Headquarters To Drive Menu Innovation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Slim Chickens has announced the official opening of its new research and development center at the company's headquarters in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The innovative facility is designed to accelerate culinary creativity, streamline menu testing, and elevate future guest experiences across the brand’s 250-plus locations worldwide.

“This new R&D center is more than just a space for culinary innovation; it’s a content and collaboration hub for the Slim Chickens brand,” said Grant Springer, senior director of brand strategy at Slim Chickens. “We’re using the space to develop new menu items, partner with creators, and explore brand collaborations. It’s part of our broader vision to turn our headquarters into a storytelling engine complete with a test kitchen and recording studio so we can create the cultural conversation around Slim Chickens, not just join it.”

Built over 18 months from repurposed office space, the R&D Center has already hosted focus groups, anniversary celebrations, and social content creation with the “Slimtastic 4,” an Alabama-based group of super fans. “It gives us the ability to meet with partners and suppliers here in our R&D Center with our equipment and show what could be a future component of the brand," Springer said. 

The new R&D Center includes a special historical element — a wooden piece of wall art taken from the original Slim Chickens restaurant. When the original store was torn down and rebuilt, the team salvaged the signage, cut it out, and repurposed it into a large framed mural for the new space, adding a meaningful, nostalgic touch to the facility.

According to Springer, the new R&D Center will help drive future menu innovation and seasonal offerings designed to engage fans and build on Slim Chickens’ signature sauces. The new space also plays a role in operational testing for the brand. “We’re using the R&D Center to test new seating arrangements, wall décor, and digital menu boards,” Springer said.

That attention to operational simplicity carries into the highly anticipated Spicy Tender, which will make its debut next month. "We think that getting the spicy into the tender to address the menu gap is going to be very successful," Springer said. "And we're already looking forward to additional ways we can bring spice to other areas of our menu." 

As Slim Chickens continues to expand across the U.S. and internationally, the new R&D Center represents a major investment in long-term innovation — ensuring the brand continues to evolve while staying true to its Southern hospitality and scratch-made quality.

About Slim Chickens

Slim Chickens opened in 2003 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a focus on fresh, delicious food with a southern flair in a fast-casual setting. Guests can always expect hand-breaded chicken tenders served with their choice of 14 flavor-filled dipping sauces. With more than 250 opened and a fanatical following in 34 U.S. states, as well as international locations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, and Malaysia, the eternally cool brand is an emerging national and international franchise leading the “better chicken” segment with a goal to grow over 600 restaurants over the next decade.

For more information on Slim Chickens, visit www.slimchickens.com.