Chicken Salad Chick Expands Footprint with Record 2025 Franchise Growth
Event summary
- Chicken Salad Chick awarded nearly 100 new franchise deals in 2025, opening 42 locations across 13 states.
- The brand expanded into five new states (Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Utah) and debuted in Kansas and Maryland.
- Florida and Texas led growth with nine and seven new locations respectively, while Kansas, Maryland, and New Mexico showed strong early performance.
- Chicken Salad Chick attracted experienced multi-unit operators, ranking in the top 94th percentile for awarding an average of four units per deal.
The big picture
Chicken Salad Chick's record-breaking 2025 growth underscores the sustained demand for its franchise model and the strength of its relationship-focused strategy. The brand's expansion into new regions and attraction of experienced operators position it for continued momentum in 2026, aligning with broader industry trends of regional diversification and scalable fast-casual concepts. With a proven track record in both emerging and established markets, Chicken Salad Chick is poised to capitalize on its loyal customer base and strong unit economics to fuel long-term, sustainable growth.
What we're watching
- Geographic Expansion
- How Chicken Salad Chick's entry into the Midwest, Mountain West, and Western U.S. will affect its long-term growth beyond its Southeastern roots.
- Franchisee Performance
- Whether the brand's selective approach to partnering with experienced multi-unit operators will sustain strong unit-level performance in new markets.
- Market Differentiation
- The pace at which Chicken Salad Chick can maintain its highly differentiated concept and culture as it scales nationally.