Wings and Rings

<div>After 15 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth, <a href="http://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=buffalo-wings-rings-enters-epic-growth-mode-804" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style=" ">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a> might appear to have found some &#8220;secret sauce&#8221; for excelling in a competitive casual-dining segment for sports-theme restaurants, but the brand&#8217;s owners insist its success comes from simply focusing on great food and guest service.</div><div>&#8220;Sometimes in business we speak about a silver bullet, but I don&#8217;t think there was one thing in particular for our brand,&#8221; Philip Schram, executive vice president of business development, said of the chain with 45 locations in the United States and 12 international units. Since Schram and business partners Nader Masadeh and Haytham David acquired the Cincinnati-based brand in 2005, Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&#8217; holistic approach has invested in every facet of the business, from the menu to the building design to its people capability. Having solidified the brand&#8217;s foundation, the team is looking to supercharge franchise growth this year with a $30,000 waiver off its franchise fee and to carry that momentum into the next two years with accelerated development. The brand&#8217;s revamped prototype, upgraded food and beverages, and updated service model have contributed to a nine-year run from 2005 to 2013 in which the average unit volume increased an average of 13 percent year-over-year. In 2013, more than two-fifths of the brand&#8217;s locations reported an average unit volume greater than $2 million, with the top one-fifth of locations hitting $2.4 million in annual sales, Masadeh said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve worked hard on the brand every day for the past 10 years, and in that time the AUV has increased 13 percent every year,&#8221; Schram said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve increased the return to franchisees, but it hasn&#8217;t been a spike. It&#8217;s been consistent.&#8221; The franchisees&#8217; growth in their profitability not only has strengthened their interest in opening more stores but also been a major source of appeal to new operators, Schram said. When the corporate team discussed ways to further support the franchisees this year, &#8220;the discussion turned to money,&#8221; he said, and the brand arrived at the $30,000 discount on the franchise fee to celebrate Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&#8217; 30th anniversary. &#8220;It was a simple idea, mostly to benefit existing franchisees, but because of that simplicity, it has made new franchisee&#8217;s decisions to move forward with us much easier,&#8221; Schram said. &#8220;Growth has led to more growth, and now we&#8217;re heavily in expansion mode. Whenever you get that momentum and are viewed as a growing company, that always interests prospective franchisees.&#8221; President and chief executive Masadeh said this year was the right time for an aggressive program to spur expansion because of the work that had been done the past five years on improving Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&#8217; fundamentals and unit economics. &#8220;During that time, the economy was not in the best shape, so it was the perfect time to work on the foundation of the company,&#8221; Masadeh said. &#8220;But in late 2013 and early this year, we wanted to capitalize on all that work and start accelerating franchise development.&#8221; In addition to the 30th anniversary incentive of a discounted franchise fee, Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings also has relaunched the brand in its core Cincinnati market to incorporate the new menu, d&#233;cor and service elements that have driven results so far in newer markets like Texas. Masadeh added that two other pillars of the current growth strategy &#8212; a refinement of Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&#8217; corporate culture and greater communication and alignment of the whole strategy to franchisees and corporate staff &#8212; would be ongoing. &#8220;Those four things were forward-looking strategies, but we&#8217;re not going to forget about our existing franchisees, either,&#8221; he said, adding that Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings would be fanning out across the country to help ensure all current franchisees are supported in bringing their operations and building designs up to the new brand standards. The chain&#8217;s culinary team also worked hard to achieve to a 3-to-1 ratio of food-to-alcohol sales, which has helped food costs and profitability, Masadeh added. Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&#8217; growth plans, which internally are called &#8220;50 in &#8217;15, 60 in &#8217;16,&#8221; represent an acceleration to between 10 and 12 openings per year, but the brand will continue to play the long game and shoot for sustainable growth in quality sites with the best possible franchisee candidates, Schram said. While he is busier than ever finding prospective real estate and franchise operators, final approval of either is determined by the brand&#8217;s executive committee comprising the heads of every department, from marketing and operations to culinary and IT, he said. &#8220;This sharing of power keeps the company on track and focused on long-term growth with the right people,&#8221; Schram said.</div>

1851 Franchise

After 15 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth, Buffalo Wings & Rings might appear to have found some secret sauce for excelling in a competitive casual-dining segment for sports-theme restaurants.

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Buffalo Wings & Rings enters epic-growth mode  

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Wings and Rings Launches Operating Partner Program to Reward Top Performers and Build Future Franchise Owners

Wings and Rings Serves Up Game Day Deals for the 2026 NCAA Tournament

Wings and Rings Brings Back Sam Adams Beer Cheese for Big Game Flavor and a Free Wings Giveaway

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CINCINNATI&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://ownwingsandrings.com/">Wings and Rings</a>, the 85-unit, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise, has launched its Operating Partner Program (OPP), a strategic initiative designed to reward top-performing general managers with a share of the bottom line while creating a clear pathway toward future franchise ownership.Built to mirror the benefits of ownership without requiring significant upfront capital, the program gives high-performing operators a “sweat equity equivalent,” allowing them to participate directly in the financial success of their restaurants while continuing to grow within the system.“It’s really an opportunity for our best managers to earn a share of the bottom line,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-bafundo-44908a3/">Bob Bafundo</a>, Chief Operating Officer. “In many ways, it mimics the franchisee ownership model. The better the restaurant performs, the more they benefit. It creates true alignment.”The Operating Partner Program is grounded in one of Wings and Rings’ core values: “stand together as family.”With many general managers having more than a decade of tenure, the program reflects a long-standing commitment to recognizing and investing in the people who have helped build the business.“This is essentially a way to reward our best operators with a bigger, better opportunity,” Bafundo said. “It’s about recognizing the people who have been driving this brand forward for years and giving them a chance to grow with us in a more meaningful way.”Beyond individual rewards, the program is designed to strengthen the system as a whole by retaining top talent and creating stability at the general manager level, a key driver of restaurant performance.“Research in this industry consistently shows that stability at the general manager level leads to stability among hourly employees,” Bafundo said. “And that stability ultimately drives guest satisfaction, sales and profitability.”Participants are expected to operate with an owner’s mindset, taking accountability for performance, building strong teams and serving as the face of the brand in their local communities. The program also acts as a stepping stone toward future franchise ownership, giving operators the experience and financial upside to grow within the system.To qualify, candidates must demonstrate at least two years of strong performance as a general manager, consistent operational excellence, a desire to grow with the brand and the ability to make an upfront investment, which varies by restaurant.The Operating Partner Program is currently rolling out internally, with many candidates expected to meet eligibility requirements by the end of the year.As Wings and Rings continues to expand, the OPP reinforces the brand’s commitment to developing talent from within, strengthening its culture and aligning incentives across the system.“This is about investing in our people for the long term,” Bafundo said. “When our operators win, our teams win, and ultimately, our guests do too.”ABOUT WINGS AND RINGSEstablished in 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wings and Rings is THE club-level sports restaurant and bar with Craveworthy Wings and Rings, My Place Service and a Club-Level Ambiance, all to encourage social connections. Whether it’s enjoying a bit of banter, catching up over the game, finding new craft beer favorites, or celebrating a big win, Wings and Rings is the place where everyone can kick back, enjoy life, and champion everyday moments. With 85 units across the globe, Wings and Rings is changing the sports restaurant category, making elevated food and beverage experiences accessible to all fans. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wingsandrings.com">www.WingsandRings.com</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownwingsandrings.com">www.OwnWingsandRings.com</a>.

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The Cincinnati-based sports restaurant franchise created the program to give strong operators a larger share in store performance and a path to more ownership-style responsibility.

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CINCINNATI, Ohio —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/">Wings and Rings</a>, the 85-unit, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise, is turning up the heat for college basketball fans during the 2026 NCAA tournament with a limited-time game day deal made for sharing. Kicking off with the first round on March 19 and running throughout the championship on April 6, guests can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/baskets">score a free basket</a> of Saratoga chips, fries or wedges with the purchase of 20 wings on NCAA tournament game days with code BASKETS.The tournament deals don’t stop there. Wings and Rings loyalty members will receive a new freebie loaded into their accounts during every round of the tournament, giving fans even more reasons to stay in the game. Guests can download the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/baskets">Wings and Rings app</a> to start earning rewards and unlock exclusive offers.Throughout the tournament, guests can enjoy Wings and Rings’ signature wings paired with bold sauces and flavors, making it easy to build a shareable spread for friends and family. Plus, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/deals">Daily Value</a> lineup keeps the deals rolling all week long:&nbsp;<ul><li>Monday &amp; Friday: Kids Eat Free. Start the week with homework after school and end it cheering on the game.</li><li>Tuesday: 40% off wings (traditional or boneless), juicy and packed with bold flavor.</li><li>Wednesday: $8.49 three-piece tender baskets. Hand-breaded, generous servings at unbeatable value.</li><li>Weekday Lunch (11 a.m.–2 p.m.): Generous portions of wings, sandwiches, burgers, and salads that won’t break the bank.</li><li>Happy Hour (Mon–Fri, 3–6 p.m.): Afternoon deals on drinks and bites, ideal for unwinding with friends before tip-off.</li></ul>During the tournament, guests can indulge in Wings and Rings’ Crafted Classics limited-time menu, featuring the return of Sam Adams Beer Cheese across comfort-forward dishes made for game watching. Favorites include Sam’s Beer Cheese Loaded Fries or Chips, the Beer Cheese Chicken Sandwich, and Beer Cheese Jumbo Tenders, perfect for sharing.With wall-to-wall games, shareable eats, and can’t-miss tournament deals, Wings and Rings is the ultimate spot for fans to gather and celebrate every championship moment.To find a Wings and Rings near you, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com">https://www.wingsandrings.com</a>.&nbsp;ABOUT WINGS AND RINGS&nbsp;Established in 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wings and Rings is THE club-level sports restaurant and bar with Craveworthy Wings and Rings, My Place Service and a Club-Level Ambiance, all to encourage social connections. Whether it’s enjoying a bit of banter, catching up over the game, finding new craft beer favorites or celebrating a big win, Wings and Rings is the place where everyone can kick back, enjoy life and champion everyday moments. With 85 units across the globe, Wings and Rings is changing the sports restaurant category, making elevated food and beverage experiences accessible to all fans. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wingsandrings.com">www.WingsandRings.com</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownwingsandrings.com">www.OwnWingsandRings.com</a>.&nbsp;

Score big with a free basket of fries, chips, or wedges when you grab 20 wings on NCAA tournament game days, giving your crew extra fuel for every buzzer-beater.

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Wings and Rings Launches All-New Daily Value Lineup Packed with Big Flavors and Big Savings

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Buffalo Wings & Rings enters epic-growth mode

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