Interactive Customer Experience (ICX) Summit

Growth igniting at Dave's Hot Chicken

provided by Dave's Hot Chicken

August 31, 2023

Los Angeles-based Dave's Hot Chicken, which recently took the top spot on FastCasual's 2023 Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, is on track to end the year with 170 locations thanks to an influx of deals, store openings and menu innovation.

"The past six months have put Dave's Hot Chicken in a position for growth that exceeds others in the fast casual segment," Shannon Swenson, VP of Franchise Development at Dave's Hot Chicken, said in a company press release. "The unwavering support of our customers and the dedication of our passionate team have been instrumental in our current success. As we've entered new markets, we remain focused on delivering exceptional dining experiences to more communities across the nation."

The chain found several avenues to continue growing its large-scale presence, including strategic hires, expanding its social media channels, introducing menu offerings and entering into high-profile partnerships. To support the 2023 growth initiatives, Dave's hired CMO Brad Haley and Chief Technology Officer Leon Davoyan, according to the release. In addition to the added strength on its leadership bench, the brand has also continued to develop its social media following. With nearly 1 million followers on Instagram, it has amassed over 1.1 million followers on TikTok by leveraging user-generated content from its army of passionate fans.

"The growth we're experiencing wouldn't be possible without our awesome team, great vendor partners and the team of seasoned multi-unit operators that have joined our network," Jim Bitticks, president and COO of Dave's Hot Chicken, said in the release. "We're dominating the fast-casual and chicken categories because of the emphasis we've put on surrounding ourselves with the best people who truly share our passion for restaurant operations and creating a unique dining experience for our customers. We're well positioned to have another epic year."

Earlier this year in Oregon, the company also expanded its test of "Dave's NOT Chicken," which substitutes chicken with thick-cut slices of cauliflower for guests who prefer meat alternatives. The brand also launched an app with a loyalty program and announced another partnership in June with A-list celebrity-investor, Drake, and his It's All a Blur concert tour. Combining the massive appeal of Dave's and Drake, the collaboration is giving away hundreds of tickets to guests to attend concert stops around the country.

Founded by Arman Oganesyan and classically-trained chef Dave Kopushyan, along with brothers, Tommy and Gary Rubenyan in early 2017, Dave's Hot Chicken initially opened as a parking lot pop-up but now has over 140 locations in the United States and Canada.

Wanna hear more about Dave's Hot Chicken? Register here to attend Bitticks' and Oganesyan's keynote address at the Interactive Customer Experience Summit, Sept. 11-13 in Charlotte.