The current landscape of the fast-food industry shows that the great chicken wars have not been won. The market remains as competitive as ever, with various franchises and legacy brands seeking to carve out their own niche in the market. Golden Chick, a Texas-grown concept, just celebrated its 60th anniversary and currently operates more than 250 locations. With consistent growth over the past few years, the brand is now on a clear path to open 27–30 additional locations in 2026 and is aiming to have 400 locations by 2030.
But what makes a chicken concept stand out for prospective operators, franchisees, and consumers? For Tony Eisermann, vice president of development at Golden Chick, the answer is a commitment to quality and support. “We try not to chase the trends or the fads that are out there,” Eisermann says. “We want to focus on the fact that we have great fried chicken, bone-in chicken, wonderful sides, and tenders that we will put up against anybody in the industry.”
A brand with a streamlined menu and 60 years of history is a lucrative proposition for franchisees. With a loyal customer base, the brand is poised for expansion in untapped markets. To cement this growth, Eisermann points to two foundational philosophies: being the best chicken concept within the restaurant community and never having growth outpace support.
“Our ultimate goal is to be over 400 locations by 2030,” Eisermann says. “For us to get there, it really comes down to the people. We are a family group, and we’re very proud of the relationships we’ve developed within our system.” Part of that support includes revamped processes and technology.
“We developed a new-store opening tracking system and weekly calls because we wanted to eliminate stress during the opening process,” Eisermann says. “We have representatives from every department, along with the franchisee and contractors, working through the process together. Those systems have helped make openings smoother, faster, and more efficient.”
Golden Chick’s approach provides a roadmap from signing a development agreement through the grand opening and beyond. This is vital as the company moves into Missouri, Arkansas, Arizona, and Kansas. Eisermann remains intentional about this expansion.
“We don’t just say, ‘We’re looking for anybody with a checkbook; you can come in and get a franchise,’” Eisermann says. “We want to make sure our growth is strategically placed. We are not trying to overshoot our expansion where we can’t support franchisees.”
This commitment is reflected in the success of current operators, like a record-breaking franchisee in Wichita. “We have a franchisee in Wichita, Kansas, who is amazing to work with; he’s two hours from the closest store, but he has been breaking records. Although he didn’t have prior quick-service experience, he has taken to it like a duck to water and continues to lead the way. He even set a system-wide record for the most loyalty members signed up after we rolled out our new app.”
To learn more about franchising with Golden Chick, visit goldenchickfranchising.com.
