Franchising
Big Chicken making big waves in Florida
April 19, 2022
Shaquille O'Neal-owned Big Chicken, which has over 150 locations in its franchise development pipeline, has added Florida and Arkansas to its list of states, thanks to an agreement opening 40 locations with the Panhandle Restaurant Group in Florida.
"We are entering the Big Chicken family at an inflection point and can clearly see an unlimited upside for us," Chris McMillan, co-owner of PRG with his wife Amy, said in a company press release. "In the restaurant industry, you have to possess not only passion for the food but for the people as well, and from the moment we sat down with the Big Chicken team it was clear our energy was in alignment. We couldn't be more excited to bring this awesome brand to Florida and Arkansas!"
From humble beginnings as quick service restaurant employees at age 16, the restaurant industry has been the couple's lifelong passion and career. After becoming a multi-unit restaurant supervisor, Chris McMillan teamed up with Amy to own and operate 22 Sonic drive-in locations across multiple regions. They now own 10 additional brands.
"We want to do business with people we see as true partners," Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern said in the release. "From the moment I met Chris, Amy, and the PRG team, I knew they saw the world the same way. Big Chicken and PRG will do amazing things together."
Alongside its expansion in Florida and Arkansas, Big Chicken recently announced franchise expansion into the West Texas, Central Oklahoma, Chicagoland, Arizona and Greater Los Angeles markets. Locations are also open in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena, metro-New York's UBS Arena and on two Carnival Cruise ships.
