Franchising

Chick N Max signs Missouri deal

Photo: Chick N Max

May 2, 2024

Chick N Max, specializing in almond-wood smoked chicken and wings, sandwiches and fried tenders, is headed to southwestern Missouri, thanks to a multi-unit deal for three restaurants in the Springfield metro area. Jason Kruse, who owns and operates six Subway restaurants in the area, will oversee the development. While leases have yet to be signed, Kruse is eyeing various parts of Christian and Greene counties for potential sites, including Springfield, Nixa, Ozark and Republic. He expects to have his first restaurant open and operating by the end of the year.

"Chick N Max has carved out a unique niche in a saturated segment and created the 'Home of the Better Chicken Sandwich' by creating a lineup of chef-crafted sandwiches with a global array of flavors," Kruse said in a company press release. "I can't wait to open our first restaurant and provide the local community with a dining experience that will make their taste buds sing."

Founded in 2017 in Wichita, Kansas, and franchising since 2021, Chick N Max offers 10 flavors of chicken.

"This marks yet another significant step in our growth," Chick N Max founder Max Sheets said in the release. "Anchored by our innovative take on chicken and an enthusiastic franchise partner like Jason Kruse, we're perfectly positioned to accommodate the demands for alternatives to burgers and look to the future with great enthusiasm."

With six restaurants already open and operating across three states, and an active pipeline that stands at more than 50 restaurants, the brand expects to open as many as three to five restaurants this year and at least that many each year after.