admin Slim Chickens is one brand that’s pushing the boundaries of the fast casual experience. The brand believes in not just serving a quick meal, but rather creating a great customer experience with flavourful food that leaves guests wanting more. Beginning its journey from the humble garage of its founders nearly a decade ago, the brand has since become one of the most successful fast casual franchises in the industry, spanning across domestic and international landscapes.
Slim Chickens is red hot and growing like crazy because our food is delicious, our corporate team provides the best support in the industry and the franchisees we partner with are outstanding multi-unit restaurant operators – Jackie Lobdell
Blending its mouth-watering, buttermilk marinated, hand-breaded chicken tender recipe with welcoming Southern hospitality and a cool vibe has accorded the brand a fervent following across the world, with loyal fans called “Slimthusiasts.” The loyalty its chicken inspires and the brand’s success as a fast-growing franchise with high-quality, flavourful food has made it an undeniable leader in the better-chicken segment.
The Leader Spearheading Franchise Development
Vice President of Franchise Development Jackie Lobdell brings over 25 years of experience in the field of sales and marketing to the table. She has served in several key positions prior to shouldering the responsibilities of the Vice President of Franchising at Slim Chickens. As a talented, motivated, and exceptionally seasoned executive, Lobdell has mastered the art of growing business enterprises, building stable relationships with clients, and creatively designing ingenious solutions to any roadblocks in the brand’s path.
Lobdell joined Slim Chickens with extensive experience as a former Director of Franchise Development for FOCUS Brands, where she was in charge of recruiting, awarding, and on-boarding new franchise partners. Lobdell taps into her consultative sales experiences as well as her unmatched marketing and advertising skills to grow Slim Chickens. With her help, the better-chicken brand has expanded across the Unites States.
A Vision Like No Other
Slim Chickens was born with a simple vision of providing only the best chicken tenders to its customers. This vision has remained of paramount significance to the brand as its franchise network keeps expanding. Over the years, the taste and recipe of its famous chicken tenders has remained as unchanged as this guiding principle of quality. The brand has earned the distinction of making the best hand-breaded chicken tenders with all natural ingredients. “100% all-natural tenderloins have been the building blocks of our menu and thus, our legacy,” says Jackie.
We value building strong relationships with our franchisees and ensuring that they are supported in every way possible, whether it is site selection, training, grand openings and everything in between. Our team prioritizes the happiness of our franchisees and providing them with whatever they need to succeed – Jackie Lobdell
A Trailblazing Franchise Brand
‘Breakthrough Brand, Breaking Numbers’ has been the most apt description of Slim Chickens ever since this trailblazing brand started its franchising journey in 2012. With an AUV of 3.4 million*, 800+ units in development, and more than 160 locations opened, the Slim Chickens franchise has recorded unprecedented growth.
A Community-Driven Experience
Slim Chickens understands that the perfect meal is not just about the taste of the food, but also about building lasting connections with friends and family and enjoying a welcoming ambience. To this end, each franchising unit of the brand features community-based customised murals and family-friendly seating arrangements to help promote a congenial and lively ambience for the meal to be enjoyed.
Franchising USP of the Brand
The growth of the brand as one of the most formidable franchise opportunities in America can be accredited to its unique and exceptionally fine-tuned operational philosophy. Every franchising decision made by the brand exemplifies its relentless efforts to continue cementing its untainted legacy of quality in the market.
The team at Slim Chickens believes in standing by their franchise partners every step of the way. From branding to site selections and grand openings, the Slim Chickens team ensures that its franchise operators are well-poised to partake in the brand’s journey of growth. The highly experienced leadership team at Slim Chickens, coupled with its impeccable list of training resources, continue to attract the attention of seasoned multi-unit restaurant owners who want to be a part of this legacy.
Growth During the Pandemic
Slim Chickens managed to follow-through with its franchising expansion plans despite the pandemic-induced challenges the restaurant industry faced in the last few years. The brand managed to add over 500 units to its network since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, recording an overall sales revenue growth of 35%. This growth is emblematic of the brand’s efforts to adapt itself to changed operational landscape during the pandemic.
A Bright Franchising Future
As franchise expansion for Slim Chickens continues to accelerate at an exponential rate, the brand now stands well-poised to further expand its sphere of influence in the global market. Over the course of the few years, Slim Chickens intends to strengthen its franchising prowess with 600 restaurants across the globe. It seeks to capitalize on this growth momentum to continue conquering one feat of success after the next.
*AUV for group #1 franchised restaurants in the 2021 FDD
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