Top 10 Chicken Franchises To Watch in 2020

When people think of quick-service restaurants, Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and other burger joints are what’s most likely to come to mind. And while these burger chains continue to experience success in the restaurant industry, chicken is the real shining star here. We’re not talking about these aforementioned chains offering chicken sandwich options on their menus—which they most certainly do—we’re talking about the franchise brands that have formed their identity around chicken and chicken alone.

From what makes these brands unique to the ways in which they’re successfully innovating, these 10 chicken franchises are making a point of standing out. 

Popeyes

Number of locations: Over 3,100 units

Investment range: $383,500 to $2,620,800

Franchise opportunity website: https://company.popeyes.com/franchise/

Since its founding in 1972, Popeyes has been infusing New Orleans culture into its food. From chicken tenders and wings to popcorn shrimp and a number of well-crafted sides like mac n’ cheese and red beans and rice (not to mention tits raved-about biscuits), Popeyes has led the charge in spreading the reach of and popularizing classic Southern comfort food. 

What you can learn from this brand: This year is one that Popeyes won’t soon forget thanks to the infamous chicken sandwich, an all-white chicken breast hand battered and breaded in the brand’s signature buttermilk coating. This product was a hot commodity––so much so that all Popeyes stores ran out in dramatic, much-buzzed-about fashion. Popeyes made a whopping $65 million from the chicken sandwich’s debut as a result of an incredible amount of viral, user-generated hype. The brand further capitalized on the sandwich’s popularity by bringing it back as a permanent menu item.

Wingstop

Number of locations: Over 1,100

Investment range: $374,090 to $782,450

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.wingstop.com/own-a-wingstop\

Wingstop opened its doors to customers in 1994 and began providing opportunities to franchisees in 1997. The dine-in and carryout restaurant specializes in chicken and prides itself on knowing flavor. Its menu offers bone-in or boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders and a variety of sides to accompany any of its meals. 

What you can learn from this brand: Wingstop was instantly off to a successful 2019 when its same-store sales rose 7.1% in the first quarter due to its digital ordering push, both online and mobile, and its reinvigorated emphasis on delivery. Wingstop also announced plans to relocate the headquarters office to Addison, Texas in June as part of its effort to assist in the brand’s next phase of expansion. 

El Pollo Loco

Number of locations: 500

Investment range: $502,000 to $1,100,000

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.elpolloloco.com/franchising/

It all started in 1975 when founder Pancho Ochoa sold everything he had to open the first El Pollo Loco in Sinaloa, Mexico. Today, El Pollo Loco has over 500 locations across six Southwest states. The Mexican-style menu contains handmade guacamole, salsa and dressings to serve alongside its grilled chicken dishes. Along with the company’s refreshed website and mobile app, El Pollo Loco embarked on the largest day of community service the company has ever organized in honor of Cesar Chavez Day by helping to restore a high school in Los Angeles, the community in which El Pollo Loco first opened its U.S. store. The brand plans to continue serving its communities and collecting success as 2020 approaches. 

What you can learn from this brand: “As we look to 2020, our recently restructured senior leadership team is focused on continuing to innovate and drive customer loyalty,” said El Pollo Loco president and CEO Bernard Acoca. “We also have aspirations to grow the brand beyond our current geographic footprint. We’ve carved out a new niche for our unique L.A.-Mex, better-for-you twists on traditional Mexican dishes.”

Chick-fil-A

Number of locations: 2,360

Investment range: $342,990 to $1,982,225

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.chick-fil-a.com/Franchising/Franchise

Chick-fil-A, otherwise known as America’s favorite fast food restaurant four years running, has experienced an impressive year of growth and success. Not only did Chick-fil-A land the top spot on the American Customer Satisfaction Index ranking of “limited-service restaurants,” but it was named the third-largest restaurant chain in the U.S. this year. The chicken franchise grew systemwide sales 16.7% to the tune of a whopping $10.46 billion in 2018. Along with its growth in sales, Chick-fil-A made headlines when it debuted its new mac and cheese side dish. 

What you can learn from this brand: Perhaps Chick-fil-A’s biggest milestone this year was its commitment to serve “No Antibiotics Ever” chicken at each of its restaurants, significant due to its level of transparency in a space that traditionally lacks it. After the chicken franchise declared its goal to achieve 100% of its locations to serve only No Antibiotics Ever chicken, it’s officially the first QSR to make such a pledge, a strategic play to appeal to the growing pool of health-conscious diners looking for food at a value.

KFC

Number of locations: Over 21,000

Investment range: $1,442,550 to $2,771,550

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.kfc.com/about/franchising

KFC is one of the longest-tenured franchises of all-time—and is showing no signs of going anywhere anytime soon. Since debuted by Colonel Sanders way back in 1930 in—you guessed it—Kentucky, the chicken brand has become synonymous with fried chicken for many americans, and across the glob, for that matter. KFC still uses the same herbs and spices to season its tenders and wings, the recipe for which will forever remain a secret. 

What you can learn from this brand: The brand has adapted to today’s dining trends by rolling out a delivery option this year through the popular third-party delivery app, Grubhub. KFC also hopped on the plant-based bandwagon and introduced its finger-lickin’ fake chicken––making it the first national U.S. quick service restaurant to produce a plant-based chicken option. The company also made changes at the employee level when KFC Chief Operations Officer Monica Rothgery implemented the brand’s new “scoop to order” process to increase the speed of service. 

Slim Chickens

Number of locations: Over 70

Investment range: $915,900 to $1,714,000

Franchise opportunity website: https://slimchickensfranchise.com/

For 16 years, Slim Chickens has become quite well-known across the Southeastern U.S. for serving up home-cooked favorites like fried pickles, classic coleslaw and, of course,  its famous cooked-to-order chicken. Since its 2003 founding in a garage in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the brand has been delivering customers top-tier Southern hospitality from the moment they step foot inside one of its restaurants.

What you can learn from this brand: After seeing same-store sales grow 15.3% in 2018 to $129.4 million, according to Restaurant Business, Slim Chickens received an equity investment to fuel the fast casual chain’s growth in 2019. The investment is poised to help the brand open 600 units over the next decade, setting Slim Chickens up for a huge 2020.

Wing Zone

Number of locations: Nearly 100

Investment range: $250,000 to $760,000

Franchise opportunity website: https://wingzonefranchise.com/

Wing Zone was founded in 1991 by Matt Friedman and Adam Scott, two college students working out of their fraternity house kitchen. The two refer to themselves as “flavorholics,” and as such, have developed a menu that ranges from wings and tenders to burgers that have elicited numerous awards. After 25 years of business, Friedman claimed the biggest lesson he learned along the way was focus and discipline. To celebrate 25 in 2019, along with expanding its stores and innovating its menu, Wing Zone rolled out a delivery option in partnership with Grubhub. 

What you can learn from this brand: The brand has been perennially recognized by the National Buffalo Wing Festival by its “crazy and fun” flavors, and also landed a spot on the 2019 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list for the second year in 2019. This recognition exemplifies how a brand that remains focused on an exemplary offering on the consumer side inherently creates value in its offering on the franchise development side.

Church’s Chicken

Number of locations: 1,700-plus

Investment range: $964,150 to $1,556,300

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.churchs.com/franchising/

Since 1952, Church’s Chicken’s hand-battered original and spicy chicken and honey butter biscuits made from scratch have dominated the flavor game in the chicken sector of the franchise industry. Despite a 159-restaurant decline over the last three years, Church’s recently unveiled its first rebrand in decades in hopes of enticing a private equity buyer to take on the franchise, a trend becoming increasingly common in the franchising space of late.

What you can learn from the brand: In 2018, Church’s Chicken reported its sales and profits to be the highest they’ve ever been, but 2019 has been even better for the brand. The chicken franchise outperformed last year’s numbers thanks to the 20 consecutives weeks of positive comparative sales. A huge contributor to that is Church’s Chicken’s To-Go platform, which has been spread across many technology platforms making it faster and more convenient for customers to order food.

Bojangles’ Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits

Number of locations: Over 760

Investment range: $1,637,440 to $2,359,000

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.bojangles.com/franchising/

Bojangles’ was founded in Charlotte, North Carolina and since 1977, the Southeastern chicken chain continues to pride itself on “bringin’ that down home flavor” to every customer. The chicken franchise is known for spicing up its chicken with cajun seasoning and serving chicken with a hot fluffy biscuit on the side, which customers enjoy with the brand’s signature iced tea. 

What you can learn from the brand: This year, Bojangles’ hired former Krispy Kreme executive Jackie Woodward as its new chief marketing officer. Since coming on board, Woodward has made an immediate impact by launching a number of innovative and creative campaigns to further expand the brand to new locations. 

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Number of locations: 2

Investment range: $350,000 to $850,000

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.daveshotchicken.com/franchising

Dave’s Hot Chicken was recently founded in 2017 by four childhood friends with a goal of making Nashville hot chicken better than anyone else out there. What resulted was the creation of seven classic seasonings that range from “no spice” to the hottest of hot, “reaper.” Patrons of Dave’s Hot Chicken have the option of accompanying their choice of seasoned chicken with a classic bowl of mac and cheese or crispy fries, creating a simple-yet-alluring dining experience that fans of the growing brand are taking notice of. 

What you can learn from the brand: While Dave’s Hot Chicken only has two brick-and-mortar locations in Hollywood as it currently stands, the brand is getting ready to open two additional locations in Los Angeles. Being the new kid on the block in the world of chicken franchises may make growth seem daunting, but the brand is benefitting from a growing hype; an impressive list of investors including Maria Shriver and movie producer John Davis recently jumped on board this year to support it.