Wings and Rings
Wings and Rings is a Cincinnati-based franchisor of club-level sports restaurants and bars, operating 85-87 units across the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and the Middle East, generating revenue through franchise royalties, marketing fees, and franchise fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Wings and Rings does
Wings and Rings is a Cincinnati-based franchise company operating a sports restaurant and bar concept across approximately 85-87 units in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and the Middle East, founded in 1984 and rebranded from Buffalo Wings & Rings in 2021. The company sells franchise rights, supplies a Club-Level store prototype of 4,500-5,000+ square feet, and provides brand, marketing, and operational support to franchisee operators. Its menu is centered on wings, onion rings, chicken tenders, burgers, and salads, with multiple service channels including dine-in, valet pick-up, carry-out, third-party delivery, and catering. Technology assets include a proprietary mobile app, POS system, order-and-pay-at-table functionality, and a customer loyalty program (Buffalo Sauciety VIP Rewards). The company accepts Bitcoin for franchise fees and is testing AI and robotics in kitchen operations.
Wings and Rings monetizes primarily through a 5% royalty on net sales, a 3% marketing requirement (2% Marketing Fund + 1% Local Store Marketing), and a $40,000 franchise fee per location that is currently waived under the Development Incentive Program. Average gross sales for endcap-style locations are $2,608,936 per the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, with audited EBITDA at 10.6% of sales (10.3% normalized). Primary customer segments are multi-unit franchise operators and sports fans and families seeking an elevated casual-dining sports experience.
Leadership is led by President and CEO Nader Masadeh, who acquired the company in 2005 and serves as co-owner, supported by executives with franchising experience from Papa John's and Procter & Gamble. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors and operates with a servant-leadership culture, an Operating Partner Program that creates a sweat-equity path to franchise ownership for top-performing general managers, and a Buffalove Foundation for community giving.
Wings and Rings firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wings and Rings
- Legal name
- Wings and Rings
- Website
- https://ownwingsandrings.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Wings and Rings is a Cincinnati-based franchisor of club-level sports restaurants and bars, operating 85-87 units across the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and the Middle East, generating revenue through franchise royalties, marketing fees, and franchise fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wings and Rings industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Casual Dining Restaurant Franchise
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chicken & Wings QSR (THAFAAAC)
Keywords
Where Wings and Rings is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wings and Rings business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Franchise Royalty Fees: 5% royalty on Net Sales from franchisee-operated locations. Marketing requirement is 3% of Net Sales (2% Marketing Fund; 1% Local Store Marketing).
- Franchise Fees: Franchise fee of $40,000 per location (currently $0 with Development Incentive Program for first 6 months of operation).
- Food and Beverage Sales: Average gross sales of $2,608,936 per end-cap style location. Revenue from dine-in, delivery, carry-out, and catering operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Franchise Development |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Wings and Rings product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wings and Rings operates a sports restaurant and bar franchise offering a 'Club-Level' dining experience with a chef-inspired menu centered on signature wings, onion rings, chicken tenders, burgers, and salads. The brand is sold as a franchise opportunity to multi-unit and single-unit operators who then operate dine-in, delivery, carry-out, and catering locations under the Wings and Rings banner. The system is supported by proprietary technology (mobile app, POS, order-and-pay-at-table) and franchisee services.
Product overview
Wings and Rings operates as a sports restaurant and bar franchise offering a unified dining experience centered on its 'Club-Level' concept. The core offering is the physical restaurant franchise (85+ units) providing dine-in, carry-out, delivery, and catering services with a chef-inspired menu of wings, onion rings, tenders, burgers, and salads. Supporting the core restaurant are digital products including a mobile ordering app and proprietary POS system, along with the Buffalo Sauciety VIP rewards program for customer loyalty. The franchise also offers technology-enabled services such as valet pick-up and online ordering.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Buffalove Foundation: Non-profit organization focused on providing food for children in need and giving back to local communities.
- Buffalo Sauciety
Products and services
- Wings and Rings Sports Restaurant Franchise The flagship sports restaurant and bar franchise offering a 'Club-Level' dining experience with crave-worthy wings, onion rings, chicken tenders, burgers, and elevated chef-inspired menu items. Sold to multi-unit and single-unit franchisees who operate dine-in, carry-out, delivery, and catering locations under the Wings and Rings brand. Each restaurant is approximately 4,500–5,000+ sq ft with contemporary, clean design, numerous TVs, dedicated bar and dining areas, and valet pick-up lanes.
- Buffalo Sauciety VIP Rewards Program Customer loyalty program launched in 2019 that rewards members with VIP treatment through points, exclusive deals, and unique experiences at Wings and Rings locations. Open to consumers dining at any Wings and Rings location.
- Wings and Rings Catering Service Full-service catering offering the Wings and Rings menu for events, parties, and gatherings. Available at participating franchise locations for off-premise occasions.
- Daily Value Lineup Daily value menu launched in March 2026 featuring discounted and special deals such as Kids Eat Free, 40% off wings, and $8.49 tender baskets, providing large portions at value prices for dine-in guests.
- Winter Limited-Time Offer Seasonal limited-time offer featuring new menu items, seasonal beverages, and holiday gift card bonuses. Ran November 12, 2025 to January 11, 2026.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average gross sales of $2,608,936 per endcap-style location
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wings and Rings
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wings and Rings technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
Wings and Rings partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Third-Party Delivery CompaniescoreWings and Rings partnered with third-party delivery companies starting in 2018 to support off-premise ordering and delivery services. This partnership enables customers to order for delivery through popular delivery platforms, expanding the brand's reach beyond dine-in customers.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wings and Rings competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings is the largest U.S. sports-bar wings chain (~1,000+ U.S. units). It is the most direct comparable to Wings and Rings given nearly identical positioning around wings, beer, sports viewing, and dine-in + delivery. Scale and brand awareness make it the primary competitor Wings and Rings must differentiate against.
- Wingstop: Wingstop is a wings-focused QSR with ~1,900+ global locations and a predominantly off-premise and delivery model. Comparable to Wings and Rings in core product (wings) and franchise growth strategy, though it competes more on speed/takeout than dine-in occasion.
- Wing Zone: Wing Zone is a wings-focused franchise chain emphasizing delivery and tech-enabled ordering. Overlaps with Wings and Rings on wings menu, franchise model, and digital ordering investments, though its format is more delivery-centric than dine-in sports-bar.
- Hurricane Grill & Wings: Hurricane Grill & Wings is a sports-bar wings franchise operating primarily in the U.S. Southeast. Closely comparable to Wings and Rings in target occasion (casual sports dining), menu (wings-centered), and franchise distribution model.
- Twin Peaks: Twin Peaks is a sports-bar casual-dining chain with a lodge-themed, TV-heavy environment. Comparable to Wings and Rings on target occasion (sports viewing, group dining, alcohol-led mix) though broader on menu and positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Hooters: Hooters is a long-established sports-bar casual-dining chain with hundreds of units globally. Comparable to Wings and Rings on sports-bar positioning and franchise growth, though differentiated by theme and broader menu. Acts as a broad incumbent in the same occasion category.
- Dave & Buster's: Dave & Buster's combines casual dining with sports viewing and entertainment (arcade/games). Compares to Wings and Rings on sports-bar casual-dining occasion and group/family target segment, with a broader entertainment-led differentiation.
- Applebee's: Applebee's is a large casual-dining chain (1,500+ U.S. units) with a broad bar-and-grill menu including wings. Comparable to Wings and Rings on casual-dining occasion, bar-led mix, and franchise model, though it competes on a much broader menu and audience.
- Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut is a global QSR/pizza chain that has aggressively expanded its wings menu. Comparable as a franchise-led casual food brand with wings exposure and significant digital ordering and delivery infrastructure, though anchored on pizza.
- Chili's Grill & Bar: Chili's is a casual-dining bar-and-grill chain with a sizable wings presence (known for promotional '3 for $10' wings). Comparable to Wings and Rings on bar-led casual dining, wings menu inclusion, and franchise vs corporate mix. Broader menu positions it as a broad-incumbent competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wings and Rings social profiles
Digital presenceWings and Rings financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wings and Rings leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Wings and Rings funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wings and Rings 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 Wings and Rings
What does Wings and Rings do?
Wings and Rings operates a sports restaurant and bar franchise offering a 'Club-Level' dining experience with a chef-inspired menu centered on signature wings, onion rings, chicken tenders, burgers, and salads. The brand is sold as a franchise opportunity to multi-unit and single-unit operators who then operate dine-in, delivery, carry-out, and catering locations under the Wings and Rings banner. The system is supported by proprietary technology (mobile app, POS, order-and-pay-at-table) and franchisee services.
Is Wings and Rings a public or private company?
Wings and Rings is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wings and Rings founded?
Wings and Rings was founded in 1984. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Wings and Rings based?
Wings and Rings is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wings and Rings make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Franchise Royalty Fees are the primary driver. The others are franchise Fees and food and Beverage Sales.
Who are Wings and Rings's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Buffalo Wild Wings, Wingstop, Wing Zone, Hurricane Grill & Wings and Twin Peaks. Broad incumbents are Hooters, Dave & Buster's, Applebee's, Pizza Hut and Chili's Grill & Bar.
Does Wings and Rings have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wings and Rings.
What industry is Wings and Rings in?
Wings and Rings's product category is Casual Dining Restaurant Franchise. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAAAC, Chicken & Wings QSR. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.