Franchising

Hoots Wings inks 60-unit franchisee deal

Provided

February 26, 2021

Hoots Wings, the fast casual wing concept owned by Hooters, has signed its first franchise agreement since launching a franchising initiative last year. Dallas-based AE Restaurant Group, led by Cary and Jackie Albert, will open 60 Hoots locations in Texas, specifically targeting the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Austin, according to a company press release.

The Alberts, who own 30 Schlotzsky's units, will open at least six locations in 2021 and eight to 10 locations each year thereafter with Cary handling real estate, development and build-out, while Jackie being hands-on in every restaurant, handling operations, marketing, training and hiring.

"Hoots Wings is an attractive franchise option to Cary and I because we get to be on the ground floor of an emerging concept on the fast-track for growth, while benefiting from all the perks of having a national brand backing us," Jackie Albert said in the release. "The more we dug into hoots wings' food and finances, the more appealing it was. The smaller prototype means we can build out fast and furious, and we are eager to start bringing the best-you've-ever-had breaded bone-in, naked bone-in, boneless, smoked and roasted wings to Texas."

"Jackie and Cary are top shelf operators, and we are proud to call them our first franchisees," said Mark Whittle, dhief development officer at HOA Brands, parent company to hoots wings and Hooters. "We are looking for experienced, sophisticated, multi-unit operators and the Alberts are top tier. When you look at how they run their restaurants and how they treat their staff and guests — that's what we want the hoots wings experience to be. Having personally known Cary and Jackie for over 13 years, I have total confidence they will be outstanding stewards of the hoots wings brand as they build out their markets."

Franchisees who join the Hoots Wings brand will receive hands-on training through the opening process, marketing support, site selection and construction assistance, access to an existing supply chain and a top-tier POS system. As a thank you, for their service to the United States, military veterans like Cary Albert receive a 10% discount off the franchise fee, according to the release.

"With only a few national competitors and an unmet demand, hoots wings is ready to become a dominant player in the wing industry, especially with excellent franchise operators like the Alberts," said Sal Melilli, CEO of HOA Brands and creator of Hoots. "We've built a strong model that is well suited for the trends of tomorrow and years to come, and that has resulted in impressive unit level economics for the brand."

Hoots Wings has seven locations in Illinois, Georgia and Florida, and the brand is looking to open up to 17 more units in 2021.