Chicken Salad Chick sees 500 stores by end of 2025; targets Midwest for growth

Chicken Salad Chick is setting its sights on the Midwest as it continues its rapid expansion.

The Southern-inspired fast-casual restaurant brand has mapped out development goals to add 50 locations to the pipeline for the Midwest during the next four years via strategic franchise partnerships. The goals build on  Chicken Salad Chick’ growth to date, with 17 signed agreements year-to-date and 40 locations projected to open by year-end.

Chicken Salad Chick recently opened its 200^th location, in LaGrange, Georgia. Looking ahead, the brand hopes to have 500 locations open and operating by the end of 2025.

The company said that the Midwest region has proven to be an attractive franchise development region. It currently has 15 locations open across Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio.

"Growing our presence across the Midwest is an exciting chapter for our growth story as we break into untapped markets with new franchise partners," said Scott Deviney, CEO of Chicken Salad Chick. "Our initial success throughout the region tells us that now is an opportune time to build on that foundation, and we look forward to working with enthusiastic franchise partners who align with our mission. We have aggressive growth goals for the next five years, and plan to break into the tight-knit, community-centric cities across the Midwest where we know our concept with thrive."

[Read More: Chicken Salad Chick relocating headquarters to Atlanta]

Chicken Salad Chick is looking to expand in the following additional Midwest markets:

• Illinois – Upwards of 15 restaurants in Springfield, Champaign and Chicago suburbs; 
• Indiana – 10 restaurants in Lafayette, Fort Wayne and South Bend;
• Iowa – 12 restaurants in Des Moines, Ames, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Davenport, Iowa City;
• Kansas – Up to nine restaurants in Lawrence, Manhattan/Junction City, North Kansas City, Olathe, Topeka, Wichita;
• Missouri – Seven restaurants in the North Kansas City, Cape Girardeau communities; 
• Nebraska – Up to eight restaurants in Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island; and
• Ohio – 20 restaurants across Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown

Kickstarting Midwest development efforts is a signed agreement in Lee's Summit, Missouri, slated for a spring 2022 opening. Additionally, the brand has announced signed agreements across Missouri– in Springfield, Columbia and Jefferson City, Missouri and an upcoming agreement in Aurora and Macedonia, Ohio.