Slim Chickens
Slim Chickens is a privately held fast-casual restaurant franchise founded in 2003, specializing in hand-breaded chicken tenders across 300+ locations in 34 U.S. states and international markets. It serves individual diners and catering customers through franchise-operated units, a mobile app, and the Slims Rewards loyalty program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersFayetteville, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Slim Chickens does
Slim Chickens is an Arkansas-based fast-casual restaurant franchise founded in 2003 in Fayetteville, specializing in hand-breaded chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and a proprietary line of jar desserts. The chain operates more than 300 locations across 34 U.S. states plus international markets and ranked among the top 120 U.S. chains in 2025 with $469.3M in systemwide sales. Its product surface is supported by a mobile app (iOS/Android), a website ordering channel, and the Slims Rewards loyalty program, which uses point accrual and birthday/referral rewards to drive repeat visits. Catering services target group occasions including office lunches, weddings, and game day events, with both pickup and delivery fulfillment.
The company operates almost entirely through franchising, generating corporate revenue from franchise fees, ongoing royalties on systemwide sales, digital service fees (a 3% fee on app/online orders), and ancillary streams such as gift card and catering infrastructure. GTM motion centers on multi-unit development agreements with regional operator groups, targeting densification in underpenetrated U.S. markets (Northeast, Central Florida, California) and 500 international locations on top of a 1,000-unit domestic goal. In 2026 the chain launched a Fly-Thru drive-thru-only real estate format to broaden the addressable franchise footprint and reduce unit-level capex.
Leadership is founder-anchored, with Tom Gordon serving as CEO and co-founder Greg Smart continuing in a founder role; Sam Rothschild leads operations and development as COO/CDO, and Seth Jensen serves as CFO. Technology is operational rather than differentiated: a Punchh-based loyalty app, standard third-party payment and delivery integrations, and vendor-provided AI audio analysis for drive-thru QA. The strategic emphasis is on unit growth via franchise development and real estate format diversification rather than on technology platform expansion.
Slim Chickens firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Slim Chickens
- Legal name
- Slim Chickens
- Website
- https://slimchickens.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Slim Chickens is a privately held fast-casual restaurant franchise founded in 2003, specializing in hand-breaded chicken tenders across 300+ locations in 34 U.S. states and international markets. It serves individual diners and catering customers through franchise-operated units, a mobile app, and the Slims Rewards loyalty program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Slim Chickens industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fast-casual restaurant chain
- NAICS
- Poultry Processing (311615), Poultry and Poultry Product Merchant Wholesalers (42444)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chicken Concepts (Fried/Grilled/Hot Chicken) (THAFABAI)
Keywords
Where Slim Chickens is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fayetteville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Slim Chickens business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Franchise Fees and Royalty Revenue: Slim Chickens generates revenue primarily through franchising. Franchise operators pay fees and ongoing royalties based on systemwide sales. The chain has over 300 locations across 34 U.S. states and international markets, with a pipeline of over 1,000 units in development targeting expansion to 1,000 domestic and 500 international locations.
- Direct Restaurant Sales: Company generates revenue from food and beverage sales at franchise and potentially corporate-owned locations. Menu items include chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, wraps, mac bowls, chicken & waffles, salads, sides, desserts (jar desserts, brownies, milkshakes), and beverages. Catering services for parties and events also contribute to revenue.
- Digital Ordering Service Fees: A 3% service fee applies to all orders placed through the App or Online Ordering via the website, covering operational costs including payment processing and system maintenance. A separate delivery charge applies for orders with delivery included, charged by Slim Chickens directly or through third-party delivery companies.
- App Downloads and Promotional Campaigns: Partnership with No Kid Hungry converts app downloads into donations (company donates $5 per app download up to $40,000, adding to existing $110,000 pledge), supporting community engagement while driving app adoption.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Menu Items |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | App/Online Ordering Service Fee |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Slims Rewards Signup |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Slim Chickens product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Slim Chickens operates a fast-casual restaurant franchise chain selling hand-breaded chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, wraps, salads, mac bowls, chicken and waffles, sides, jar desserts, and shakes. The chain serves customers through dine-in, carryout, drive-thru, catering, and digital ordering channels via mobile app and website across more than 300 locations in 34 U.S. states and international markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Slims Rewards: Loyalty rewards program where members earn 1 point per $1 spent, with 50 points redeemable for $4 rewards.
- Fly Thru
Products and services
- Slim Chickens Restaurant Chain Arkansas-based fast-casual chicken restaurant chain specializing in hand-breaded chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, wraps, salads, mac bowls, chicken and waffles, sides, and jar desserts, served in a friendly southern hospitality atmosphere. The chain operates more than 300 locations across 34 U.S. states and international markets through dine-in, takeout, drive-thru, and delivery channels for individual consumers and families.
- Slims Rewards Program Loyalty rewards program where members earn 1 point per dollar spent, with 50 points redeemable for a $4 reward. Includes a $5 off signup offer for orders of $10 or more, birthday reward of a free jar dessert with adult meal purchase, and 50 bonus points for referred members who spend $5.
- Slim Chickens Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS and Android enabling online ordering for pickup and delivery, rewards point accumulation, special offers and discounts, restaurant locator with hours and directions, and Slims Rewards account management. Supports group ordering and receipt scanning.
- Online Ordering System Website-based online ordering service enabling customers to place orders for pickup or delivery, with options to schedule orders up to a week in advance. A 3% service fee applies to all online orders, plus a separate delivery charge where applicable.
- Slims Catering Catering service for parties and events of any size, offering chicken tenders, wings, sides, desserts, and more for occasions including office lunches, outdoor gatherings, game day events, and weddings. Provides delivery options and end-to-end menu planning.
Quantifiable outcome
- $469.3 million in systemwide sales in 2025, representing 3.9% year-over-year growth
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Slim Chickens
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Slim Chickens technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
Slim Chickens partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- No Kid HungrycoreSlim Chickens partnered with No Kid Hungry to fight childhood hunger through a mobile app download promotion. For each app download, the company donated $5 up to $40,000, building on an existing pledge of $110,000 and aiming for a total of $150,000. The campaign encouraged community engagement to support children facing food insecurity across the United States.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Slim Chickens competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- KFC: Largest global chicken QSR by unit count, competing on the value-tier fried chicken occasion across all of Slim Chickens' existing and target markets.
- Chick-fil-A: The dominant U.S. chicken QSR with a significantly larger systemwide sales base and broader menu. Competes with Slim Chickens for chicken-tender and sandwich occasions across nearly all of its 34+ states.
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Globally scaled chicken QSR with a broader menu (sandwiches, tenders, sides). Operates directly in Slim Chickens' markets and competes on value-tier chicken occasions.
- Church's Texas Chicken: Established fried-chicken QSR franchise with comparable value positioning and a large franchise footprint; competes with Slim Chickens on price-tier chicken meals.
Direct peers
- Wingstop: Chicken-focused franchise concept specializing in wings, comparable to Slim Chickens' wing offering and franchise-led growth model; similarly targets domestic unit expansion and digital ordering.
- Raising Cane's: Fast-casual chain built almost entirely around chicken tenders with a focused menu, directly comparable to Slim Chickens' core offering of hand-breaded tenders and house sauces.
Regional players
- Bojangles: Southeast U.S.-skewed chicken QSR franchise with comparable chicken-and-biscuit menu architecture. Overlaps with Slim Chickens in core Southern markets but is less penetrated outside the region.
- Zaxby's: Franchised chicken tenders and wings chain concentrated in the Southeast, directly comparable to Slim Chickens in product mix and franchise model, though with regional rather than national distribution.
Emerging players
- PDQ: Chicken tenders-focused fast-casual concept with a comparable menu and franchise-led growth model. Competes for the same chicken-tender occasion in overlapping markets.
- Dave's Hot Chicken: Fast-growing chicken-tenders/wings concept with a similar franchise-driven expansion playbook. Highly comparable as a newer chicken concept scaling into the same underpenetrated markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Slim Chickens social profiles
Digital presenceSlim Chickens financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Slim Chickens leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Slim Chickens funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Slim Chickens M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Slim Chickens
What does Slim Chickens do?
Slim Chickens operates a fast-casual restaurant franchise chain selling hand-breaded chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, wraps, salads, mac bowls, chicken and waffles, sides, jar desserts, and shakes. The chain serves customers through dine-in, carryout, drive-thru, catering, and digital ordering channels via mobile app and website across more than 300 locations in 34 U.S. states and international markets.
Is Slim Chickens a public or private company?
Slim Chickens is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Slim Chickens founded?
Slim Chickens was founded in 2003. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Slim Chickens based?
Slim Chickens is headquartered in Fayetteville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Slim Chickens make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Franchise Fees and Royalty Revenue is the primary driver. The others are direct Restaurant Sales, digital Ordering Service Fees and app Downloads and Promotional Campaigns.
Who are Slim Chickens's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are KFC, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Church's Texas Chicken. Direct peers are Wingstop and Raising Cane's. Regional players are Bojangles and Zaxby's. Emerging players are PDQ and Dave's Hot Chicken.
Does Slim Chickens have an API?
No public API is recorded for Slim Chickens.
What industry is Slim Chickens in?
Slim Chickens's product category is Fast-casual restaurant chain. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFABAI, Chicken Concepts (Fried/Grilled/Hot Chicken). Its NAICS code is 311615 and its SIC code is 2000.