Wing It On! savors the flavor of franchise growth. The New England-based wing joint known for its fresh, never-frozen, all-natural wings’n wiches has announced plans to target expansion in new markets for the brand. Given its 2020 performance, Wing It On! has now identified targeted areas in Texas, Louisiana and North Carolina for its next phase of growth.
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of seven recently signed franchise agreements. With 15 locations open and in development, Wing It On! aims to have 100 in its franchise system by 2024. Captivating fans for nearly a decade with its specialty sauces, high quality wings and unmatched approach to customer service in the QSR wing category, Wing It On! has amassed a cult-like following that has allowed for the brand to spread its wings and grow nationwide.
“The consistently strong sales and restaurant growth over the last six months indicates we are in the perfect position to be more aggressive with our franchise development strategy and meet the demand restaurant franchise investors have for our concept,” says co-founder and CEO Matt Ensero. “As we move ahead, we are eager to bring Wing It On! to even more communities by awarding franchise opportunities to qualified individuals and teams that are devoted to maintaining our high standards and offering the best customer experience and wings around.”
Since the middle of the year, Wing It On! has opened to huge fanfare at three new locations, Stratford Connecticut, Prattville Alabama, and Raleigh North Carolina. In Stratford and Prattville, each franchise location set consecutive opening timeframe revenue records. Plus, the brand put its stake in the ground when it opened a corporate location in Raleigh, demonstrating its commitment to continued product and operational innovation. The restaurant in Raleigh serves as the company’s new headquarters and reflects the current brand prototype.
Another indication of the strength of Wing It On! recently came to fruition when it signed a franchise agreement with a multi-unit, multi-brand franchisee in the Atlanta market. The seasoned operator of Huddle House and Fazoli’s restaurants inked a deal with Wing It On! to open three units in the region with the first to open mid-November.
Founded in Waterbury, Connecticut, Wing It On! currently operates in its home state of Connecticut as well as New Jersey, North Carolina, Alabama (Prattville), with units in development in Georgia (Sandy Springs), South Carolina, Florida (Tampa), Texas (Houston), Alabama (Birmingham) and Massachusetts (Boston).
The attractiveness of the franchise model is only enhanced with its flexible design footprint. Takeout and delivery drive nearly 90 percent of store revenues, meaning overhead is kept low with just a small portion of the restaurant reserved for dine-in. Locations can range from less than 1,000 square feet up to 1,500 square feet. With real estate flexibility on its side and consumer demand high, Wing It On! plans to grow by targeting single-unit and multi-unit deals in key growth markets including Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Raleigh and Durham.
Offering a built-in digital experience that franchisees can leverage for online ordering, a mobile app and third-party delivery integration software, the Wing It On! digital operating model fosters a low initial investment and higher sales per square foot. Wing It On! also offers a food truck franchise option to drive additional revenues.
As the brand continues to expand into key markets, Wing It On! is actively seeking qualified single-unit and multi-unit owners looking to invest with an emerging brand in the fast-growing chicken segment that keeps operations simple. Ideal franchisees should have business or operations experience and a passion for the restaurant industry – if you’re a wing nut, even better. Franchisees must have a minimum net worth of $300,000 and meet the minimum liquid assets requirement of $70,000.
