According to Technomic’s 2014 Top 500 chain restaurant report, sales for fast-casual chains grew by 11 percent and store count by 8 percent, a testament to the growing fast casual industry. While the nation’s largest restaurant chains have struggled to make headway with consumers in recent years, menu-focused fast-casual concepts such as Shane’s Rib Shack have captured the market share.
“We provide our loyal customers the best-tasting, all-American barbecue in a restaurant that has vast ties to the community and provides an inviting atmosphere,” says Shane Thompson, president and founder of Shane’s Rib Shack. “We know we are different than larger national brands because of our simple philosophy of great food and great people. If we execute on that, we gain great financial returns. We are not looking for the next big marketing scheme and our growth shows both our franchise partners and guests appreciate that simple model.”
Evident in its regional dominance, Shane’s Rib Shack has contributed to the fast-casual growth trend by growing primarily from within the franchise base. Strong gains in average unit volume over the past three years have existing franchise partners eager to open new units. A targeted growth strategy in the Southeast has proven fruitful with new openings in 2015 scouring Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
As a thank you to its loyal fan base and the communities in which the restaurant serves, Shane’s Rib Shack will host its seventh annual Rib Giveaway on Saturday, May 16. The first 100 guests at participating locations will receive a free half rack of slow-cooked baby back ribs, a 20-ounce beverage, and special-edition Rib Giveaway t-shirt in honor of the official month of BBQ.
“The support from the communities we serve makes it easy for us to do what we do every day. The Rib Giveaway provides us the opportunity to show our gratitude to all of our customers who have made Shane’s Rib Shack what it is today,” Thompson adds. “We founded Shane’s Rib Shack in a tiny shack in McDonough, Georgia 13 years ago. Our fans have enabled us to open 72 locations since then, six more by year end, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
