Staffing

Big Chicken names SVP of Franchise

Big Chicken, created by Shaquille O'Neal, has added Sam Stanovich as SVP of Franchise Leadership. Provided.

August 19, 2021

Big Chicken, created by Shaquille O'Neal, has added Sam Stanovich as SVP of Franchise Leadership, according to a company press release.

"When I was approached by the Big Chicken team, I immediately began my own due diligence from the perspective of a restaurant operator and developer," said Stanovich, whose restaurant and hospitality industry experience dates back to the early '90s. "Obviously working with Shaquille was a huge draw, yet I still had to explore the brand inside and out. What it revealed for me was an electric concept with food and operations that are truly unmatched."

Stanovich, a former Firehouse Subs franchisee and area developer in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana, also spent nearly a decade working for the National Restaurant Association, where he focused on evolving the strategic direction of partner products. Currently, Stanovich sits on the advisory board for the Illinois Restaurant Association, and serves as the VP of Alliances and Partnerships for the International Food and Beverage Technology Associations.

"Sam is absolutely a champion in the industry, and he knows we've got something spectacular to offer franchise investors with Big Chicken," Josh Halpern, Big Chicken's CEO, said in the release. "His experience and drive will help us fulfill our mission of bringing BIG Flavor, BIG Food and BIG Fun to fans everywhere. His perspective resonates extremely well with restaurant owner/operator groups."

In addition to its existing locations in Las Vegas, suburban Los Angeles and on Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras ship, Big Chicken has announced six restaurants in its development pipeline including locations in the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, UBS Arena in New York, Moody Center in Austin, and the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge. Franchise growth plans include key U.S. metropolitan markets and select countries.

Founded in 2018, Big Chicken is backed by JRS Hospitality, a Las Vegas-based ownership group; Authentic Brands Group, a multi-billion-dollar brand development, marketing and entertainment company.