Fast-Casual Brand Enters Five New States and Sells More Than 100 Franchise Units in 2026
ATLANTA, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, is continuing its impressive pace of growth, surpassing 350 restaurants across 27 states. Building on a record-breaking 2025, Chicken Salad Chick is still trending for record growth in 2026. The brand has awarded more than 100 franchise units so far this year, remains at record pace, and has opened its first restaurants in five new states: Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West Virginia.
The milestones reflect sustained demand from experienced multi-unit operators and growing guest enthusiasm for the brand’s made-from-scratch chicken salad, as Chicken Salad Chick extends well beyond its Southeastern roots into the Midwest, Mountain West and Northeast.
The brand has seen significant growth in the Northeast region. This year, Chicken Salad Chick signed the largest development agreement in company history, a 25-unit development that will introduce the brand to Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Upper Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Restaurants are also open and in development across Pennsylvania (Allentown, Collegeville, South Pittsburgh), West Virginia (Barboursville), and S. Charleston, West Virginia.
“Surpassing 350 restaurants is a proud milestone, but what excites us most is who is helping us get there,” said Mark Verges, Vice President of Franchise Development at Chicken Salad Chick. “Every new state we enter is led by owners who share our mission to Spread Joy, Enrich Lives, and Serve Others®. That commitment is what allows us to grow at this pace without losing sight of the hospitality that has defined Chicken Salad Chick since day one.”
Chicken Salad Chick continues to be recognized as a standout brand and franchise system. In 2026, it was named No. 1 in YouGov’s Top 20 U.S. Emerging Dining Brands and ranked No. 150 on the Franchise Times Top 400. The brand has also been named one of QSR magazine’s Best Franchise Deals for four years and has ranked in the top three of Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers for six consecutive years.
Looking ahead, Chicken Salad Chick will build on this momentum with almost 350 locations in its development pipeline. The brand is actively seeking franchise partners across the Northeast, with territories remaining in New Jersey, New York and central Pennsylvania.
To learn more about opportunities with Chicken Salad Chick, visit http://www.chickensaladchick.com/franchising.
About Chicken Salad Chick
Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors plus fresh sides, soups, sandwiches, desserts and catering, there’s something for every guest and occasion. Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 350 restaurants across 27 states and continues its rapid expansion driven by a passionate network of franchise owners. The brand has earned consistent recognition from Entrepreneur, Franchise Times, Fast Casual, QSR, Southern Living and Technomic, among others. Visit www.chickensaladchick.com to learn more.
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SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick
