Wings and Rings

Twenty-sixteen was a rough year for the restaurant industry. According to TDn2K&rsquo;s latest Restaurant Industry Snapshot, overall same-store sales in the fourth quarter dropped to negative 2.4 percent. And so far, 2017 isn&rsquo;t looking too much better. The MillerPulse restaurant index report showed a 1.5 percent decline in same-store sales this past January&mdash;the seventh decrease in the past eight months.

But despite that lackluster performance, there&rsquo;s one brand that has managed to stand out from the pack for the better&mdash;<a href="http://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=buffalo-wings-rings-thrives-despite-full-service-restaurants-trending-down-10840" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a>, a 70-plus-unit Cincinnati-based full-service family and sports restaurant.

Same store sales and average unit volumes for the brand increased .5 percent in 2016. Meanwhile, other casual dining brands were struggling to keep up&mdash;some restaurants saw as much as a nine percent drop. For the rest of the restaurant industry, same-store-sales traffic has dropped for 15 of the past 16 months, with only February of 2016 ending on a positive note. And on a two-year basis, same-store sales were also down 0.6 percent&mdash;the worst in the post-recession era.

But despite the negative numbers for many casual dining restaurants, it&rsquo;s clear that <a href="http://buffalowingsandrings.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=buffalo-wings-rings-thrives-despite-full-service-restaurants-trending-down-10840" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a> isn&rsquo;t a brand that&rsquo;s willing to follow the pack. Fueled by a defined branded message that&rsquo;s positioned around an unparalleled &ldquo;Club-Level Experience,&rdquo; Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings has successful carried the momentum from a strong 2016 into the first 31 days of 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&ldquo;In the early years, we worked diligently to establish our true identity and create a way to differentiate ourselves from others in the space. Then, through core consumer research, we found ownership in the club-level experience&mdash;our guests were adamant about having the same upscale experience they received at the game in a family sports restaurant environment,&rdquo; said Diane Matheson, Vice President of Marketing for the emerging brand.

This brand positioning has provided Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings with a clear blueprint for everything it does&mdash;from restaurant design and TV positioning and&nbsp;promoting&nbsp;the highest level of entertainment possible, to a keen attention to detail and ongoing menu innovation led by its own executive chef, Elliott Jablonsky.

STARTING THE GROWTH TREND EARLY

Forecasting oncoming shifts in the competitive restaurant market place, Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings decided to build upon and perfect its growth strategy of diversifying its target franchisee prospects to include those with limited restaurant experience. By working with prospects who are on the hunt for the next great portfolio investment&mdash;a target traditionally dismissed by competitive restaurant franchises&mdash;Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings awarded restaurant agreements to 17 operators in 2015 and 12 more in 2016.

&ldquo;While we remain very calculated in the awarding of franchises, our model lends itself to taking on a sophisticated businessperson and evolving them into a thriving restaurateur,&rdquo; said Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings CEO Nader Masadeh, who learned of the strength in flexibility of operators while filming CBS&rsquo; Emmy Award nominated Undercover Boss. &ldquo;We have carefully engineered our kitchen to operate more like a quick-service restaurant versus a full service. This simplifies a menu that&rsquo;s often perceived as complex, and it provides a little more flexibility when it comes to deciding who ultimately leads our new restaurants.&rdquo;

Filling its development pipeline before the casual dining segment took a hit was vital to Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings propelling its growth forward during an industry-wide slowdown. It was during this time that the brand ramped up its marketing and product innovation, which resulted in the brand&rsquo;s franchisees seeing increases. Meanwhile, other restaurants chose to scale back when sales fell.

&ldquo;In investing, I have always taken the approach that when stock prices decrease, you buy. We take that same approach with Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings. While other brands pull their foot off the accelerator, we press it down,&rdquo; said Philip Schram, Chief Development Officer for Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings.

With so many other restaurant brands in the marketplace, one challenge for Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings has been locating ideal real estate. While this adds on more time to the opening timeline, the brand still opened seven new locations last year with comparable numbers also scheduled for 2017.

The cost of opening a Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings is $1,244,000 to $3,085,000, depending on land ownership and type of unit. Although a large investment, franchisees are experiencing a strong ROI that continues to increase year after year, as reported in the brand&rsquo;s Franchise Disclosure Document&rsquo;s Item 19. And because the brand is dedicated to full transparency, interested candidates can <a href="http://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=buffalo-wings-rings-thrives-despite-full-service-restaurants-trending-down-10840" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">request this information online.</a>

NO CORPORATE DEBT, STRONG MANAGEMENT TEAM

When Masadeh and Schram bought the brand in 2005, the entrepreneurial duo committed to growing their brand the right way&mdash;and that was methodically with a strong annual P&amp;L.

&ldquo;This meant a no debt structure supported by a very calculated awarding of franchises to those who would be focused on being scalable and structured in their business modeling,&rdquo; Masadeh said. &ldquo;While some franchisee prospects may not be concerned with the debt structure of a company, we felt it was necessary to have structure that aligned with a very profitable, long-term focused growth brand.&rdquo;

The brand&rsquo;s franchisees agree with the management approach, including a best-in-class support model backed by a leadership and corporate team much larger than other brands of Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&rsquo; size.

&ldquo;It starts with the support of the corporate team,&rdquo; said Todd Fetter, owner of seven Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings. &ldquo;Without that, we wouldn&rsquo;t be expanding. I&rsquo;ve heard horror stories from other franchises about when you sign the franchise agreement&mdash;suddenly corporate is gone and you don&#39;t see them again. With Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings, they listen to us when we give feedback. They are there from signing all the way through opening&mdash;and beyond. They are flexible but respectful of the brand standards. I can call up Nader and Philip, the owners, which I don&rsquo;t think you can do at a Subway, Burger King, or other big corporate franchises. I do know that I&rsquo;m not looking to move away from this brand. I know what we can do, and I know what the stores can do. I&rsquo;ll continue to grow because of corporate and the ability of the team around us.&rdquo;

WITH SUCCESS COMES RECOGNITION

Whether its Franchise Business Review calling Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings a best franchise, or industry publications highlighting the brand&rsquo;s strong growth, the industry is clearly favorable toward the Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&rsquo; continued movement. The same goes for its guests&mdash;SMG, a company that turns customer data into real, actionable insight, uncovered high guest satisfaction results through its measurements.

&ldquo;Franchisees will only want to invest in our brand if they can see a strong customer positioning backed by true satisfaction,&rdquo; Matheson said. &ldquo;It is vital that we continue to innovate our product and our operations. This, in turn, will drive more customer sales.&rdquo;

The family-friendly feel that resonates with the consumer also drives the brand&rsquo;s franchisees.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m in business with my family, we&rsquo;re having fun, and we&rsquo;re building something great for future generations of the Fetter family,&rdquo; Fetter said. &ldquo;I have no exit plan. In all my previous business ventures, I had a plan of when and how I wanted to get out. I have no thoughts of getting out or slowing down with Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings.&quot;

2017 AND BEYOND

It&rsquo;s clear that the brand&rsquo;s system is working. With the opening of seven new restaurants and 12 signed franchise agreements, 2016 was the best year for Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings since 2010. And the brand is already building on that momentum in the new year. In fact, Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings is&nbsp;expected to open a record number of restaurants in 2017.

&ldquo;Our goal for 2017 is to experience a more regular evolution when it comes to development. We want to see a consistent number of store openings each month, which will ultimately boost our system wide sales,&rdquo; <a href="http://buffalowingsandrings.1851franchise.com/details/9847/Buffalo-Wings-Rings-Sees-Positive-Growth-While-Restaurant-Industry-Struggles-to-Keep-Up?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=buffalo-wings-rings-thrives-despite-full-service-restaurants-trending-down-10840#category" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Schram told 1851 in a February 2, 2017 article</a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;Between our passionate franchisees and our excellent performance last year, I&rsquo;m confident that the Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings brand will continue to build on its strong momentum in 2017.&rdquo;

Buffalo Wings & Rings Thrives Despite Full Service Restaurants Trending Down

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After nearly 12 years under its new ownership, Buffalo Wings & Rings has emerged as a leader in its competitive segment with its unique club-level experience and smart approach to development. 

This brand page has been paid for by WINGS AND RINGS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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Wings and Rings Rolls Out New Seasonal Sips, Menu Items and Holiday Gift Card Bonuses for Winter Limited-Time Offer

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

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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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CINCINNATI, Ohio —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/">Wings and Rings</a>, the 85-unit, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise, is shaking up the week with a fresh lineup of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/deals">Daily Value offers</a> starting March 2. Leaning further into its reputation for crave-worthy wings and tenders, the brand is doubling down on what matters most: big flavor, big portions and big-time value, whether you’re feeding the family or grabbing your favorites with friends.&nbsp;Here’s what guests can expect from the Wings and Rings’ Daily Value lineup:<ul><li>Monday and Friday: Kids Eat Free kicks off and wraps up the week. Start Monday with homework after school and end Friday toasting the weekend with the game on at your local Wings and Rings.</li><li>Tuesday: 40% off wings! Traditional or boneless, every wing is juicy, tender and loaded with bold, crave-worthy flavor.</li><li>Wednesday: $8.49 three-piece tender baskets. Midweek cravings, meet unbeatable value. Wings and Rings’ three-piece tender baskets feature big, hand-breaded tenders, and offer better prices and bigger servings than most fast-food options.</li><li>Weekday Lunch (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.): Lunch doesn’t have to be small. Enjoy full-size lunch options, from wings, to sandwiches, burgers or salads, all at wallet-friendly prices.</li><li>Happy Hour (Monday–Friday, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.): Your favorite time of day just got better. Unwind with great drinks, food and can’t-miss deals all afternoon.&nbsp;</li></ul>These Daily Value offers are designed to give fans and families more of what they love: bold flavor, hearty portions and meals that satisfy.“We built our Daily Value lineup to give big value to the families and fans that make us who we are,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansweatt/">Dan Sweatt</a>, Senior Marketing Manager. “We’re confident we have the best wings and tenders you can find. If you haven’t tried us before, now there’s a great reason to give us a shot. If you’re already a fan, this is our way of saying thank you.”Starting March 2, weekdays are about to get a whole lot tastier. To see the full menu or find your local Wings and Rings, visit:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wingsandrings.com">www.wingsandrings.com</a>.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>.

Starting March 2, the sports restaurant franchise will begin offering huge wing savings, Kids Eat Free nights and daily deals that make skipping the kitchen easy.

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

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

Buffalo Wings & Rings Thrives Despite Full Service Restaurants Trending Down

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