After 30 years in business, Southern Classic Chicken has recently launched its franchise opportunity and is hoping to not only grow to new areas, but strengthen its presence in its home state of Louisiana. All but three of the brand’s 17 open locations are in Louisiana, and Southern Classic Chicken is planning to move south into Baton Rouge. With the right franchise partners, the brand is looking to open as many as eight new restaurants in the area in the coming years.
“We have such a strong presence in Northern Louisiana so it only makes sense to look south and continue to grow in our home state,” says Nick Binnings, Director of Brand Development for Southern Classic Chicken. “We know the product will be well-received in Baton Rouge, which is known for its amazing food scene.”
Binnings and Managing Director Tom O’Keefe believe the Baton Rouge area could comfortably hold six to eight Southern Classic Chicken franchises, with room for further growth as the brand continues to expand. With that in mind, the brand is looking for franchisees who have restaurant management experience that align with the family-focused culture. The priority is growing at a comfortable pace to ensure that the franchisees are a perfect fit for the brand.
Operating with a drive-thru and walk-up model, the restaurant chain has remained resilient even throughout the pandemic. With a 20% increase in system-wide sales in 2020, Southern Classic Chicken’s model is poised for growth as off-premise dining remains increasingly important for food concepts nationwide.
“Each of our restaurants had a very successful 2020 and we are excited to bring that success to Baton Rouge,” adds O’Keefe. “We are looking for franchise partners who are excited to grow our family-oriented concept and create a staple in new communities.”
Binnings and O’Keefe are spearheading this expansion effort with a combined experience of over 50 years in the restaurant operations and franchising space. Binnings held an executive position at Another Broken Egg Café while O’Keefe has held executive positions at Popeye’s/Church’s Chicken and Smoothie King, among others. Binnings and O’Keefe have now joined forces to help Southern Classic Chicken grow because of its culture, quality and incredible value.
Southern Classic Chicken serves up home-style fried chicken made with a proprietary marinade and batter complemented by fresh side offerings inspired by its southern roots. The family-focused brand is well-known across Northern Louisiana for its fried chicken and value pricing where an average meal ranges from $5-7. Sourcing the freshest ingredients and products possible is the top priority so the brand can provide the “absolute best” to its customers at a better price point and value than competitors.
