Chick N Max – a fast-casual franchise specializing in almond wood smoked chicken and wings, chef-crafted sandwiches and golden fried tenders – has announced the launch of its franchise opportunity and plans to expand across the Central and Southeastern United States.
With three corporate-owned restaurants already serving throngs of customers throughout Wichita, Kansas, Chick N Max intends to double its footprint by the end of next year and open as many as five new restaurants each year thereafter. The growth will be primarily achieved through multi-unit franchising and initially target select markets throughout Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and the Southeast United States.
“Within the restaurant industry, chicken is a long-standing and perennial favorite for customers and investors alike. That’s because these days, consumer tastes continue to shift towards fresher and healthier alternatives to take the place of a burger,” says Max Sheets, founder and CEO. “Anchored by our innovative take on chicken, and an executive team that boasts more than 150 years of combined restaurant experience, we’re perfectly positioned to differentiate ourselves in the thriving segment and look to the future with great enthusiasm.”
No stranger to the restaurant industry, Sheets got his start as a teenager scraping cheese off pans in a Pizza Hut kitchen. In the early 2000s – after having already spent 23 years in real estate and development for such brands as Lonestar Steakhouse and Salon, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Smashburger and Ted’s Montana Grill – he began mulling over the idea of a franchise concept that would accommodate the ever growing movement towards red meat alternatives. He conceptualized Chick N Max in 2017, assembled a team of culinary professionals to perfect the menu, and opened his first restaurant in January 2018.
To augment the company’s growth, Chick N Max is seeking franchise partners looking to get in on the ground floor of an emerging brand in the ever-growing chicken franchise industry. Including a franchise fee of $35,000, the total investment to open a 1,800-2,400 square-foot Chick N Max restaurant ranges from $450,000 to $550,000. Each restaurant typically seats about 60-80 people, and employs approximately 15-20 people.
