Viva Chicken

What Viva Chicken does

Viva Chicken is a privately held fast casual restaurant chain specializing in authentic Peruvian charcoal-fire rotisserie chicken (Pollo a la Brasa). Founded by Chef Bruno, the company operates 15 company-owned locations across the Southeast US (North Carolina, South Carolina) and one location in Utah, with the first location opening outside the Carolinas in St. George, UT. The company's core product is 100% natural, hormone-free chicken marinated for 24+ hours in a proprietary Peruvian spice blend from Chef Bruno's family recipe, then slow-roasted over live charcoal flames in custom rotisserie ovens. The menu is supplemented by Peruvian-inspired items including Tacu Bowls, Inca Burritos, Peruvian Fried Rice (Chaufa), salads, a Healthy Kids menu, house-made signature sauces (Aji Yellow/Mild, Huacatay Green/Medium, Rocoto Red/Hot), and signature beverages such as Chicha Morada and Maracuya.

Viva Chicken operates an omnichannel go-to-market model spanning dine-in, takeout, catering, mobile app ordering (iOS and Android), and third-party delivery via DoorDash. The technology backbone includes a proprietary mobile application, an OLO-powered online ordering platform (order.vivachicken.com), and a dedicated catering ordering portal (vivachickencatering.olo.com). A multi-tier loyalty program (Viva Points) with status levels (Yellow, Green, Red, Signature Sauce) drives repeat engagement, with points auto-converting to $30 rewards at 7,500 bankable points. Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based restaurant sales at individual locations, supplemented by catering packages (call center: 833-VIVACKN), bottled sauce retail sales (launched June 2021), and gift card sales. The company is not currently franchising and has no public funding rounds or institutional investors disclosed in source material.

The customer base is predominantly long-tail consumers — families and individuals seeking quick, healthy Peruvian-inspired meals, plus office workers using lunch and catering options. Named enterprise customers include Spectrum (corporate catering). The company also pursues community engagement through sponsorships of local school athletic programs and a charitable partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, plus a per-juice donation to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. Pricing is unit-based, with meals ranging from approximately $8.25 (kids meals) to $30.25 (whole chicken family meal) at the Ballantyne, NC location.

Name

Viva Chicken

Legal name

Viva Chicken, Inc.

Website

https://vivachicken.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Viva Chicken operates a fast casual Peruvian rotisserie chicken chain across 15 locations in the Carolinas and Utah, serving families, office workers, and corporate catering customers with 24-hour-marinated, charcoal-fired chicken and Peruvian-inspired menu items.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast Casual Restaurants

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Peruvian rotisserie chicken
• Fast casual dining
• Charcoal rotisserie cooking
• Pollo a la brasa
• Latin american cuisine

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Dine-in and Takeout Restaurant Sales: Revenue from customers dining in restaurants or taking food to-go at 15 locations across the Southeast US.
2. Catering Services: Customizable catering packages for events including Viva Package with 2 or 3 sides, Viva Tacu Bar, delivered 7 days a week.
3. Loyalty Program (Viva Points): Multi-tier loyalty program where customers earn points per dollar spent, redeemable for rewards. Points auto-convert to $30 rewards at 7,500 bankable points.
4. Mobile App Ordering: Online ordering through proprietary mobile app available on iOS and Android platforms.
5. Gift Cards: Physical and digital gift cards that can be loaded into the mobile app for easy ordering and gifting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Viva Chicken operates a fast casual charcoal-fire rotisserie restaurant chain selling authentic Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie chicken marinated 24+ hours in a proprietary spice blend and slow-roasted over open flames). The company complements its signature chicken with Peruvian-inspired menu items (Tacu Bowls, Inca Burritos, Chaufa fried rice, sandwiches, salads, kids meals, and house-made signature sauces), and offers dine-in, takeout, mobile app ordering, catering, and a multi-tier loyalty program across 15 U.S. locations.

Product overview

Viva Chicken is a fast casual Peruvian rotisserie chicken restaurant chain offering authentic Pollo a la Brasa as its core product, complemented by a diverse menu of Latin-inspired entrees, bowls, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and sides. The product portfolio centers on the signature charcoal-fire rotisserie chicken (available in quarter, half, and whole portions with customizable sides), supported by signature items including the Tacu Bowl, Inca Burrito, and Peruvian Fried Rice. Additional offerings include house-made signature sauces (Yellow Mild, Green Medium, Red Hot), fresh salads, a Healthy Kids menu, and specialty beverages. The company operates ancillary services including catering (with customizable packages and Tacu Bar stations), a multi-tier loyalty program (Viva Points), and mobile applications for iOS and Android enabling online ordering and rewards management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken (Pollo a la Brasa) Signature charcoal-fire rotisserie chicken marinated 24+ hours in an authentic Peruvian spice blend from founder Chef Bruno's family recipe, slow-roasted over live flames. Available as quarter, half, or whole chicken with choice of sides. Targeted at general consumers and families seeking fresh, authentic Peruvian-style chicken.
• Tacu Bowl Signature rice bowl with jasmine or cilantro rice, canary beans, avocado, and salsa criolla, customizable with pulled rotisserie chicken. Targeted at consumers seeking Peruvian-inspired customizable meals.
• Peruvian Fried Rice (Chaufa) Jasmine rice stir-fried with red pepper, green onion, red onion, egg, soy sauce, and ginger, topped with pulled chicken. Targeted at consumers seeking Latin/Asian-fusion Peruvian fried rice.
• Inca Burrito Sun-dried tomato tortilla filled with rice, canary beans, avocado, salsa criolla, and pulled rotisserie chicken, served with fries. Targeted at consumers seeking portable Peruvian-inspired meals.
• Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich Ciabatta bread or sun-dried tomato tortilla with pulled rotisserie chicken, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and rocoto mayo. Targeted at consumers seeking quick-serve Peruvian-inspired sandwiches.
• Signature Sauces (Yellow/Mild, Green/Medium, Red/Hot) House-made Peruvian sauces: Yellow (Aji) Mild, Green (Huacatay) Medium, and Red (Rocoto) Hot. Available in 8oz bottles for retail and extra small portions in restaurants. Targeted at consumers seeking authentic Peruvian flavors for at-home use.
• Catering Services Customizable catering for corporate events, office gatherings, and celebrations, including Viva Package options with 2 or 3 sides and Viva Tacu Bar stations, with delivery and setup available 7 days a week. Targeted at businesses and event organizers requiring Peruvian-inspired group meals.
• Viva Points Loyalty Program Multi-tier loyalty rewards program with Yellow, Green, Red, and Signature Sauce status tiers based on points earned per dollar spent. Points auto-convert to $30 rewards at 7,500 bankable points. Includes birthday rewards, exclusive perks, and special events. Targeted at repeat customers.
• Viva Chicken Mobile App iOS and Android mobile application for online ordering, loyalty points scanning, and account management. Available on Apple App Store and Google Play. Targeted at customers preferring mobile-driven ordering.
• Family Meals Value meal packages including Whole Chicken with 3 family sides and Tacu Tray for groups of 3-4. Targeted at families and small groups seeking shared Peruvian-inspired meals.
• Salads Fresh salads including Viva Salad, Quinoa Stuffed Avocado, Andina Power Food Salad, and Limena Chopped Salad. Targeted at health-conscious consumers seeking lighter Peruvian-inspired options.
• Healthy Kids Menu Kid-sized portions including Kids Pulled Chicken, Kids Rotisserie Chicken, and Kids Peruvian Fried Rice with drink options. Targeted at families with children 12 and under.
• Signature Juices Fresh house-made Peruvian juices: Herbal Limeade (lime, basil, mint, rosemary), Chicha Morada (Peruvian purple corn), and Maracuya (passion fruit). Targeted at consumers seeking authentic Peruvian beverages, with $0.25 donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand per signature juice purchased.
• Asian-Inspired Menu with Steak Menu expansion featuring Asian-inspired dishes alongside existing Peruvian offerings, introducing items with steak in November 2021. Targeted at consumers seeking expanded menu variety beyond chicken.
• Sopa Verde (Peruvian Green Soup) Limited-Time Offering Limited-time menu offering of Sopa Verde (Peruvian green soup), brought back based on guest requests as the first limited-time offering of 2026. Targeted at consumers seeking authentic Peruvian seasonal specials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of menu can be made vegetarian for dietary flexibility

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tetrad Brewing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2021Collaboration to develop Chicha Morada Peruvian Style Ale, a specialty beer celebrating Peruvian tradition, launched in December 2021.
• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViva Chicken's charitable efforts are dedicated to this partnership, supporting children with cancer. All charitable donations and fundraising efforts support St. Jude.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$0.25 donated from every signature juice purchased to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for childhood cancer research.
• DoorDashminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery partnership for sauce delivery within radius of nearby Viva locations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chick-fil-A: Chick-fil-A is the dominant US chicken QSR with ~3,000 locations nationwide. While not a Latin/peri-peri concept, it directly competes for chicken-loving fast casual diners, has enormous supply chain and marketing advantages, and is a major incumbent Viva must compete with in nearly every market it enters.
• Wingstop: Wingstop is a public, ~2,000-location chicken-focused QSR with strong loyalty program and digital ordering infrastructure. While specializing in wings rather than rotisserie, it competes for the same chicken fast casual/quick-service customer wallet and serves as a relevant incumbent comparable on digital and loyalty stack.

Direct peers

• Bojangles': Bojangles' is a regional chicken QSR with ~750 locations concentrated across the Southeast US (NC, SC, VA, GA, TN, FL). It is the most direct regional competitor for Viva in core NC/SC markets, with similar dine-in and catering capability and comparable price points.
• Pollo Campero: Pollo Campero is a Guatemalan-Latin fried and grilled chicken chain with extensive US operations in the Southeast and West. Its heritage-driven, family-recipe positioning and multi-format (dine-in, drive-thru, catering) model closely mirror Viva Chicken's strategy and customer base.
• El Pollo Loco: El Pollo Loco is the largest US fast casual chain specializing in Latin-inspired flame-grilled chicken, operating ~490 company and franchise locations. Like Viva, it centers on a proprietary marinade and open-flame cooking process with a distinctive ethnic positioning, making it the most directly comparable concept in scale, cuisine category, and operating model.
• Nando's Peri-Peri: Nando's is an international flame-grilled chicken chain originating from South Africa, with US locations emphasizing proprietary peri-peri sauces and a signature rotisserie/grill cooking method. Its concept parallel to Viva's charcoal rotisserie + house-made sauce approach makes it a strong direct peer in product and brand identity.
• Pollo Tropical: Pollo Tropical is a Caribbean/Latin grilled chicken fast casual chain with strong presence in Florida and expanding into Southeast US markets. It shares Viva's grilled-rather-than-fried chicken preparation, tropical flavor profile, and counter-service fast casual format.

Emerging players

• Barberitos: Barberitos is a Southeast US regional burrito/bowl fast casual chain (~50 locations) with grilled protein options including chicken. It competes in the same Latin-inspired, Charlotte-area Southeast fast casual segment with similar price points and dine-in/catering service model.
• Moe's Southwest Grill: Moe's is a ~700-location Southwest/Latin-inspired fast casual chain serving burritos, bowls, and salads with grilled chicken. While broader in cuisine, its Southeast US presence and similar per-customer price band position it as an indirect competitor for Viva's office-worker lunch and family dining occasions.
• Raising Cane's: Raising Cane's is a fast-growing chicken-tenders fast casual chain with ~700+ locations and a focused single-protein menu. While product differs (tenders vs. rotisserie), its narrow-menu, high-throughput operating model and strong loyalty-driven repeat visit metrics offer a relevant emerging-player benchmark for Viva's scaling strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vivachicken
• Facebookfacebook.com/VivaChicken
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viva-chicken
• Instagraminstagram.com/vivachicken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Viva Chicken