Frisco, Texas — At the close of the second quarter, Layne’s Chicken Fingers has expanded its footprint to more than 50 operating restaurants and signed two dozen franchise agreements. The growth is driven by a blend of internal growth and new franchisees joining the system; in the second quarter, Layne’s celebrated the 50-restaurant milestone in its home state while also laying the groundwork for its California debut with a new 12-unit deal in partnership with tenured IHOP operators.
“We’ve added dozens of units to the pipeline this year, and we’ve also opened a significant number,” says CEO Garrett Reed. “The energy is so cool. I’ve been in this industry for 30-plus years, and the journey I’ve had with Layne’s has been unique. It’s like being a parent. We’ve created this entity, and now we’re teaching it how to walk and talk. Similar to my parental feelings, I’m overwhelmed, joyful and excited about every accomplishment this ‘child’ has. It’s this bouquet of emotions all occurring at once, and it’s the coolest thing in the world to be a part of a brand that has been growing year-over-year.”
Taylor Thomas, a multi-unit Layne’s and Whataburger franchisee, executed three restaurant openings in 60 days and signed a new agreement to develop 30 Layne’s locations across Oklahoma.
“Layne’s has 51 units open right now, but when you talk to Layne’s fans, based on the passion and visibility they have, you’d think Layne’s was a 500-unit brand,” Thomas says. “Seeing this, combined with the steady support of the senior leadership team, makes me so excited for Oklahoma.”
Founded in 1994 in College Station, Texas, Layne’s Chicken Fingers started as a local favorite near Texas A&M University; today it has grown into one of the fastest-rising chicken finger brands in the country. For more information, visit www.layneschickenfingers.com.
SOURCE: Layne’s Chicken Fingers