rd+d - chicken chains

El Pollo Loco Announces New York Expansion

The chicken chain is on track to open its first restaurant in New York by mid-2027.

UK Gets Hot Chicken Flavor Infusion

Houston TX Hot Chicken (HHC), a fast-casual brand based in Las Vegas, will enter the UK via a master franchise agreement with PizzaExpress, a casual dining operator in the UK and Ireland with nearly 500 locations.

Raising Cane’s Flashy Flagship Strategy

Raising Cane’s recently opened its sixth flagship restaurant, this one in Inglewood, California.

Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken Opens First Standalone Store

Big Chicken opened its first standalone location at Waugh Chapel Towne Centre in Gambrills, Maryland.

Third-Generation Guthrie’s Bring Brand to Colorado

Guthrie's will open its first Colorado restaurant in Colorado Springs, marking the brand's debut in the state under third-generation family ownership.

Huey Magoo’s New Drive-Thru Prototype Expands Real Estate Options

Huey Magoo's Debuts Smaller Drive-Thru Prototype

Huey Magoo’s, the fast-casual chain known for its chicken tenders, introduced a condensed free-standing drive-thru prototype designed to lower construction costs and increase site flexibility for franchisees.

Love & Honey Flies South

Philadelphia-born fast-casual concept Love & Honey Fried Chicken is expanding into Florida thanks to the signing of a 20-unit development agreement.

Chicken Salad Chick Signs 25-Unit Development Deal in New York

Chicken Salad Chick signed its largest franchise development agreement to date, securing a 25-unit deal set to introduce the brand's made-from-scratch chicken salad to communities across upstate New York.

Church’s Texas Chicken Signs its Biggest Global Development Deal to Date

Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken are headed to China via a development deal with Deke Shengtang that promises to bring 600 or more restaurants to the country in the coming years.

Lee’s Famous Recipe Deepens South Carolina Footprint

Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken plans to open six new locations in South Carolina with franchisee Harris Mullis.

Starbird Signs Largest Franchise Deal Yet, Plans 36-Unit Expansion in Texas

Bay Area-based fast-casual Starbirdis launching its first Texas locations through a 36-unit franchise agreement with Mac Haik Restaurant Group. It’s the largest development deal in Starbird’s history.

KFC’s Growth Plans Have a European Flair

KFC plans to double its European presence over the next five years.

Huey Magoo’s Expands in Texas and Alabama

Chicken tender chain Huey Magoo’s signed a development agreement to open 12 restaurants, marking the brand’s entry into Texas and expanding its presence in Alabama.

The Red Chickz Enters Maryland

The Red Chickz is bringing its Nashville hot chicken concept to the East Coast with a new 3-unit franchise deal in Maryland.

Angry Chickz Enters New Mexico and Texas with 25-Unit Deal

Angry Chickz is set to debut in 11 new markets across the Southwest over the next five years, marking the brand’s largest development deal to date.

Peer to Peer: Brian Seitz, Director of Store Design & Construction, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken

As a long-time retail branding and design guy, Brian Seitz felt strongly that Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken had a great story to tell, as well as solid growth potential.

Bonchon to Enter Puerto Rico in 2026

The South Korean-born fried chicken concept made plans to open its first of six locations in Puerto Rico in 2026.

Popeyes to Open 300 Locations in Mexico

The New Orleans-themed chicken chain signed development agreements to bring more than 300 new locations in Mexico over the next 10 years.

From Las Vegas to Phoenix: Zaxbys Spreads West

Zaxbys is taking its Modern Farmhouse prototype deeper into the West, debuting its first Arizona restaurant in Phoenix just months after a splashy Las Vegas opening.

Starbird Expands Beyond California

California-based chicken-chain Starbird signed new franchise development agreements, expanding the brand into two new markets.

Fly, Angry Chickz, Fly

Southern California-born Nashville hot chicken brand Angry Chickz flies all the way to Pennsylvania.

Layne's Chicken Enters Utah

Layne’s Chicken Fingers enters Utah with the opening of its Clearfield location.

KFC Debuts Saucy New Concept

A new chicken tender concept Saucy has opened in Orlando, Fla.

Dave’s Hot Chicken Expands Internationally

Dave’s Hot Chicken has signed a franchise agreement with Azzurri Group to open 60 locations throughout the UK and Ireland, with the first location planned to open in London by Q1 2025.

Craveworthy Brands Expands

Craveworthy Brands has acquired multi-brand operator Untamed Brands.

Pollo Campero Aims for 100

After opening 11 new units and breaking into three new markets as well as launching a new prototype in 2023, Dallas-based Pollo Campero is gearing up to open its 100th U.S. location in March.