What Chicken Salad Chick does

Chicken Salad Chick is a privately held, fast-casual franchise restaurant chain founded in 2008 by Stacy and Kevin Brown in Auburn, Alabama, now headquartered at 2839 Paces Ferry Road SE, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia. The company positions itself as the nation's only fast-casual concept dedicated exclusively to fresh, made-from-scratch chicken salad, offering 12+ named flavors (e.g., Classic Carol, Barbie-Q, Fancy Nancy, Sassy Scotty) alongside pimento cheese, signature sandwiches, sides, soups, and desserts. It serves individual consumers seeking fresh fast-casual dining as well as corporate and group catering clients across 335+ locations in 22 states as of May 2026, with plans to enter additional Midwest, Mountain West, and Northeast markets.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: company-owned and franchise-operated restaurant sales (dine-in, drive-thru, takeout, delivery), franchise fees and ongoing royalty revenue, and dedicated catering orders via the chickcatering.olo.com platform. The technology stack is a standard franchise QSR configuration: a CardEo-based mobile ordering application on iOS and Android with integrated loyalty rewards, online ordering, and third-party delivery integration. Average unit volume per the Franchise Disclosure Document is $1,496,540, and system-wide sales are reported at approximately $400 million. Pricing is unit-based per transaction at the restaurant level; loyalty redemption is structured as a points program (e.g., 50 points for a free large drink, 150 points for a Large Quick Chick, 400 points for $25 off). Since beginning franchising in 2012, the brand has scaled aggressively, with record franchise activity in 2025 (nearly 100 deals, 42 openings) and a record Q1 2026 (52 new franchise awards, ~50% YoY growth).

Strategic expansion has pushed beyond Southeast roots into Kansas, Maryland, Utah, Nevada, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, while a ~300-unit development pipeline supports a stated path to ~650 total units. The brand expanded its dessert vertical through the November 2023 acquisition of Piece of Cake bakery. Marketing is multi-channel (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, mobile app, email/SMS, PR, grand-opening events, LTOs) and is anchored by the CSC Foundation, which has contributed over $2 million since 2017 to pediatric cancer research and food insecurity initiatives. Chicken Salad Chick employs 1,001–5,000 people system-wide across corporate and franchise operations.

Name

Chicken Salad Chick

Legal name

Chicken Salad Chick

Website

https://chickensaladchick.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Chicken Salad Chick is a privately held, fast-casual franchise restaurant chain operating 335+ locations across 22 states, specializing in fresh, made-from-scratch chicken salad with 12+ named flavors alongside sandwiches, sides, and catering for individual consumers and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast Casual Restaurants

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Salad & Bowl Concepts (Grain/Protein/Healthy Bowls) (THAFABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Chicken Concepts (Fried/Grilled/Hot Chicken) (THAFABAI)

Keywords

• Fast casual restaurants
• Chicken salad chain
• Franchise restaurant operations
• Southern comfort food
• Catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Sales (Company-Owned): Direct restaurant sales from company-owned locations including dine-in, drive-thru, takeout, and catering orders. Menu includes scoop meals, sandwiches, sides, soups, and desserts.
2. Franchise Fees and Royalty Revenue: Franchise operators pay initial franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments based on restaurant sales. The company has over 300 locations in development pipeline with 52 new franchises awarded in Q1 2026.
3. Catering Orders: Corporate and group catering orders through dedicated catering platform, featuring lunch boxes, platters, and full catering menus for events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chicken Salad Chick operates a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in made-from-scratch Southern-style chicken salad, offering 12+ named flavors (Classic Carol, Barbie-Q, Fancy Nancy, etc.) prepared fresh in-house every morning using premium chicken tenderloin. The menu extends to pimento cheese, signature sandwiches, gourmet soups, fresh sides, desserts, and full-service catering for groups and events, sold through 335+ franchise and company-owned locations across 22 states.

Product overview

Chicken Salad Chick is a fast-casual restaurant chain offering made-from-scratch Southern-style chicken salad and comfort food. The core product portfolio centers on 12+ named chicken salad flavors (Classic Carol, Barbie-Q, Buffalo Barclay, Cranberry Kelli, Dixie Chick, Fancy Nancy, Fruity Fran, Jalapeño Holly, Kickin' Kay Lynne, Lauryn's Lemon Basil, Olivia's Old South, Sassy Scotty), complemented by pimento cheese, signature sandwiches, fresh sides, gourmet soups, and desserts. The company operates with a platform model that includes a loyalty rewards program (Chicken Salad Chick Rewards) accessible via mobile app, catering services (Catering Menu with group luncheons, platters, and lunch boxes), and seasonal limited-time offerings (LTOs) like Maui Mama Melt, Jill Pickle, and Deck the Holly. The brand was founded in 2008 in Auburn, Alabama, and has grown to 330+ locations across 22 states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSC Foundation: Company foundation focused on pediatric cancer research and local food insecurity initiatives, having contributed over $2 million since 2017.

Products and services

• Classic Carol Chicken Salad The signature chicken salad flavor that started the brand, made with shredded chicken, minced celery, mayonnaise, and a secret seasoning blend. Available as a scoop meal, sandwich, or in Quick Chick shareable packaging.
• Barbie-Q Chicken Salad Hickory-smoked BBQ chicken salad flavor combining bold strength with unexpected sweetness. One of the core named chicken salad flavors in the daily menu lineup.
• Buffalo Barclay Chicken Salad Bold Buffalo-flavored chicken salad satisfying wing cravings with fiery, confident taste.
• Cranberry Kelli Chicken Salad Chicken salad featuring dried cranberries and slivered almonds, balanced between sweet and savory.
• Dixie Chick Chicken Salad Onion-forward chicken salad with bold, savory flavor; the only variety containing onions.
• Fancy Nancy Chicken Salad Sophisticated chicken salad with Fuji apples, seedless grapes, and crunchy pecans.
• Fruity Fran Chicken Salad Refreshing chicken salad blend featuring seedless grapes, Fuji apples, and pineapple.
• Jalapeno Holly Chicken Salad Spicy chicken salad packed with diced jalapeños providing balanced heat.
• Kickin' Kay Lynne Chicken Salad Full-on flavor powerhouse combining Buffalo, ranch, bacon, cheddar, jalapeños, and sriracha.
• Lauryn's Lemon Basil Chicken Salad Bright chicken salad featuring fresh basil, lemon pepper, and crunchy pecans.
• Olivia's Old South Chicken Salad Southern classic chicken salad with sweet pickles and egg, made in traditional style.
• Sassy Scotty Chicken Salad Zesty chicken salad blend featuring ranch, bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Signature Sandwiches Specialty sandwiches featuring chicken salad or pimento cheese on croissants or traditional bread, including Bacon Cheddar Melt, The Chick Melt, BLT, and Turkey Club.
• Pimento Cheese & More Variety of pimento cheese spreads and related items offered alongside chicken salad options.
• Salads, Sides & Soups Fresh sides and gourmet soups, including Broccoli Salad, Grape Salad, Fresh Fruit, Pasta Salad, Loaded Potato Soup, Tomato Bisque, and Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.
• Quick Chicks (Shareable Chicken Salad) Packaged chicken salad available for pickup and delivery in shareable sizes; Large Quick Chick serves 4, Small serves 2, plus Family Meal option.
• Sweet Treats / Desserts Desserts including White Chocolate Cake Slice, Red Velvet Cake Slice, and Chocolate Marshmallow Crispy Bar.
• Catering Services Full-service catering including Group Luncheons (Mini Croissant Sandwich Platter, Chicken Salad Chick Luncheon, Assorted Sandwich Platter), Platters & Bowls, Lunch Boxes, and a la carte sides and desserts for events serving 10-12+ guests. Ordered through dedicated catering platform (chickcatering.olo.com).
• Chicken Salad Chick Rewards Program Loyalty program allowing members to earn 1 point per dollar spent, redeemable for free food items, discounts, birthday rewards, and exclusive member-only promotions. Accessed via mobile app for iOS and Android.
• Franchise Program Franchise program offering independent operators the right to own and operate Chicken Salad Chick restaurants under the brand, including training, operations support, and supply chain access. Franchisees pay initial franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments. Over 330 franchise-operated locations across 22 states.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average unit volume of $1,496,540 per FDD
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Piece of CakemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2023Chicken Salad Chick acquired local bakery Piece of Cake to expand its dessert offerings across its restaurant locations. The acquisition aimed to incorporate Piece of Cake's signature cakes into the menu and continue operations at existing bakery locations, broadening beyond the core chicken salad and sides menu. The deal covered approximately 245 units at the time, with plans to test cakes in some units before broader rollout.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves28 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Honey Baked Ham: Specialty prepared-food franchise concept with holiday-occasion meal focus and made-from-scratch positioning. Comparable as a premium prepared-meal franchise; overlaps with CSC on meal-occasion occasions and catering.
• Just Salad: Fast-casual salad and grain bowl chain with loyalty program and catering. Comparable as a healthier fast-casual franchise with bowl format and digital ordering focus.

Broad incumbents

• Chick-fil-A: Dominant chicken-focused fast-food chain with industry-leading AUVs and broad lunch occasion. Compares as the largest incumbent competing for the same chicken-centric lunch and catering guest in the same geographies.
• Raising Cane's: Highly productive chicken-tenders QSR with best-in-class AUVs and rapid national expansion. Comparable scale trajectory and chicken-centric focus, with stronger menu concentration.

Direct peers

• Zaxby's: Chicken-centric fast-casual franchise chain with a similar Southeast footprint and comparable unit economics. Most direct comparable in scale, model, and customer demographic to Chicken Salad Chick.
• Panera Bread: National fast-casual chain centered on soups, salads, and sandwiches with strong catering and loyalty program. Closely comparable menu architecture and lunch/catering occasion, with broader scale and brand.
• Slim Chickens: Fast-casual chicken tenders and wings chain expanding nationally via franchising. Closely comparable model and guest profile, with overlapping catering and LTO strategies.
• McAlister's Deli: Fast-casual franchise chain built around sandwiches, salads, soups, and catering. Directly comparable on menu mix, catering focus, franchise model, and customer demographic.
• Firehouse Subs: Sandwich-focused fast-casual franchise chain with strong catering business and similar Southeast origins. Comparable model, scale, and catering-led growth playbook.

Regional players

• Bojangles': Chicken-and-biscuits fast-casual chain with deep Southeast roots and growing national footprint. Comparable as a chicken-centric, franchise-driven, regionally rooted fast-casual brand expanding outward.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chickensaladchick
• Instagraminstagram.com/chickensaladchick
• TikToktiktok.com/@chickensaladchicktok
• Xx.com/chickensaladchi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicken-salad-chick

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicken Salad Chick