bannerFranchisor Stories

Wings and Rings Celebrates 40 Years of Wings and Growth: Thriving Q3 Highlights Customer Engagement, Menu Innovations, and Exciting Future Plans

The popular restaurant and bar franchise is introducing Southern Fried Chicken wings, hot honey sauce, wraps and more to its permanent menu.

CINCINNATI, OH  Wings and Rings, the 85-unit, Cincinnati-based restaurant and bar franchise, is wrapping up a successful third quarter, driven by a combination of customer-focused promotions, menu innovations and exciting milestones. As the brand continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the team reflects on the achievements of Q3 and looks ahead to an even more exciting close to 2024.

"This was a very exciting time for us," said Dan Sweatt, Field Marketing Manager at Wings and Rings. "We celebrated our 40th anniversary with 40 days of giveaways, starting in July. One of the highlights was offering 40% off wings on National Chicken Wing Day and ending the promotion with thousands of prizes for our loyal customers." 

Sweatt explained that every store had one lucky winner who received free wings for a year, while one grand prize winner received an all-expenses-paid trip to an amusement park in Florida. "Not many businesses get to celebrate 40 years, so we wanted to say thank you to our consumers in a big way," he said.

The anniversary campaign was a resounding success, significantly growing the Wings and Rings loyalty club by 50% as compared to last year and introducing the brand to new customers, reflected in the 16% increase in net loyalty sales as compared to last year. "We had more people learning about Wings and Rings, which is always a win for us," said Sweatt.

In Q3, Wings and Rings also worked hard behind the scenes to prepare for the upcoming launch of Menu 3.0, a refreshed take on the brand's offerings. "We’re about to roll out some exciting changes," Sweatt said. "Due to the overwhelming reception by our customers during our LTO period, we’re adding both Southern Fried Chicken wings and our Hot Honey Sauce into our permanent menu. We’ve also revised our salad section and will be introducing wraps on a permanent basis, which were a huge hit during testing."

Currently, Wings and Rings is also featuring limited-time offers (LTOs) for Curry Garlic and Pumpkin Chile sauces, which align with the fall season. "We’re always looking to offer bold, unique flavors that keep our customers coming back for more," said Sweatt.

With a focus on value, Wings and Rings' lunch offerings have been a standout performer in Q3 as well. "Our lunch menu, which starts at $9.99, offers great portion sizes and high-quality food that competes with the major fast-food restaurants," Sweatt said. "We’ve seen great success with our Monday through Friday lunch deals, and our varied menu of salads, sandwiches and wraps ensures there’s something for everyone."

In addition, Wings and Rings introduced a family bundle featuring its popular Southern Fried Chicken wings, which became hugely popular with customers. "As we move into the holiday season, we want to ensure families have every opportunity to enjoy our food together, whether for a party or a casual dinner," said Sweatt.

As Wings and Rings looks forward to the fourth quarter, Sweatt hinted at exciting new additions for the winter. "Our winter LTO will feature a new wrap that uses our new Curry Garlic signature sauce and we are also introducing General Tso sauce to the menu," he said. "We’re also rolling out a dessert offering from the winner of our recipe contest from the General Manager of our Lewis Center, Ohio location — a sweet version of our pretzel bites, dusted with cinnamon and served with frosting, perfect for the holiday season."

Additionally, Wings and Rings will offer a Black Friday promotion with incentives for gift card purchases. In 2023, the brand’s Black Friday gift card promotion saw a 22% YoY sales increase compared to the previous year, setting the stage for another strong finish to the campaign this year.

"As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue innovating and delivering the best possible experience to our customers," said Sweatt. "With new menu items, seasonal specials and ongoing promotions, we’re confident that Wings and Rings will remain a go-to destination for families, sports fans, and anyone looking to enjoy great food in a welcoming atmosphere."

ABOUT WINGS AND RINGS

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 www.WingsandRings.com and www.OwnWingsandRings.com.

*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS