Wing Zone Partners with Wisetail and Raintree to Support Rapid Growth

Founded in 1993, Wing Zone stands out in the fast casual segment thanks to a loyal fanbase of Flavorholics™, a core delivery model, diverse menu and an exceptional franchisee support infrastructure. Now, the popular wing franchise has partnered with Wisetail, a Learning Management System company, and Raintree*, the franchise development firm, to usher in a new era of growth and success.

When it comes to e-learning, onboarding and retention, Wing Zone is continuing to invest in better technology, as well as a simpler way to attract, hire and train team members. Wing Zone’s new partnership with Wisetail is the latest example of the brand’s commitment to technological innovation.

“Wing Zone wanted a global online learning platform that works with our two restaurant models and across the globe,” said Franchise Training Manager Darius Partridge. “We explored and interviewed four LMS companies and found that Wisetail was the perfect choice for our franchise system.”

Designed to specifically fit the needs of each company culture, Wisetail’s LMS makes employee training easy and fun by using tools that drive success in the e-learning environment. Some of Wisetail’s partnerships include Shake Shack, Einstein Bros Bagels, Jamba Juice, Dave n’ Busters, Smoothie King, Zoe’s Kitchen, and Cheesecake Factor. With the help of Wisetail, Wing Zone will create a “learning and people”-focused culture that supports every frontline team member while building an authentic community.

“The new Learning Management System will have a Wing Zone-branded interface with comprehensive training videos,” said Partridge. “There is no out-of-pocket cost for domestic franchisees, and the interface supports both Wing Zone and Wing Zone Grill & Tap concepts. The LMS promotes all-digital training, as well as HR document functionality. The platform will also link directly to any vendor sites and will even feature a ‘swag store’ where team members and franchisees can redeem items online with currency or points accumulated by successful completion of training modules.”

Plus, the leadership team will be able to communicate to each frontline employee and create a supervised online community with trackable engagement and robust reporting. ”Our teams in New Orleans will be able to brainstorm and engage with our teams in Louisville ,” said Partridge.

This is by far one of the biggest moves in Wing Zone’s 27-year history, as Partridge points out. “I've had the opportunity to work directly with Wisetail during my tenure with Shake Shack,” he said. “I was able to see a 25% increase in productivity and reduce employee turnover by 50% by implementing Wisetail and their user-friendly system. Now, Wing Zone is positioned for similar success.”

In addition to partnering with Wisetail, Wing Zone has enlisted the help of Raintree to ramp up franchise development efforts. Raintree is a leading franchise development company that helps brands generate leads from a wide variety of channels and platforms, resulting in more highly qualified candidates and lower recruitment costs. The company has helped several franchise brands grow, including MOOYAH Burger; Cheba Hut; Hounds Town USA; Teriyaki Madness; Le Macaron; Shuckin’ Shack; and more.

Raintree was attracted to the competitive Wing Zone concept because of the brand’s proven business model and impressive success in the restaurant industry. Wing Zone’s sales were up in April by 40% and up 50% in May over last year, as consumer demand for direct delivery services grew.

When it comes to the decision to partner with Raintree, Wing Zone CEO Matt Friedman notes that it really comes down to the brand’s focus on growth. “we wanted to work with a passionate company that has creats results,” he said. “Raintree’s proven track record and their belief in Wing Zone was really the answer for us. They have a strong franchise sales process, which is essential as we look to bring in the right franchisees for growth.” 

With the help of Raintree, the wing franchise is implementing new sales processes and franchise literature — everything from social campaigns to targeted marketing. In addition, Raintree is helping Wing Zone develop a new website, which will be an important aspect of the partnership. 

Raintree will also aid Wing Zone in marketing two separate franchise models — the traditional model with takeout and delivery, as well as Wing Zone Grill & Tap, the full-service restaurant. “Since we are going to be a brand that sells and supports two successful models, Raintree will help us understand the unique aspects of both and which franchise owners are the best fit for each one,” said Friedman. “The brand recently sold its third Wing Zone Grill & Tap unit, and we are taking a methodical approach in launching the franchise program for the concept.” 

While foodservice brands across many segments are struggling to stay afloat during an unprecedented time for the industry, Wing Zone has managed not only to survive but to thrive. Now, through these strategic partnerships with Raintree and Wisetail, Wing Zone is in a stronger position than ever to dominate the fast-growing segment.

The overall investment for a Wing Zone franchise is around $250,000 with a $25,000 franchise fee. Prospective franchisees can get into a proven franchise model for as little as $75,000 down. With average restaurant sales of $900,000+, the ratio of sales to investment leaves Wing Zone franchisees as satisfied as their Flavorholic consumers. For more information, please visit https://wingzonefranchise.com.