Krispy Krunchy Chicken set a record in 2024 for its most store openings in a year, at 605.
This eclipses the Alexandria, Louisiana-based branded chicken provider’s previous record of 481 set in 2023, and it is now in more than 3,200 retail locations.
“We’ve grown on the solid foundation of prioritizing the profitability of our operators through a cohesive brand strategy, strong foundational partnerships and a focus on innovation,” said Jim Norberg, CEO of Krispy Krunchy Chicken. “These efforts have driven a significant increase in interest throughout the industry, and we continue to be sought out as the preferred foodservice offering.”
The brand projects it will exceed 605 new stores in 2025.
“With a new organizational structure and new products, partners and platforms, Krispy Krunchy Chicken is accelerating its national expansion,” the company said, adding that to support its continued growth, it is focusing on collaboration across sales, operations, marketing and supply chain to enhance the brand experience.
“From new products and platforms to new ways of training and executing, Krispy Krunchy is exploring new growth opportunities, bringing their craveable fried chicken to new locations every day,” the company said.
In 2024, Krispy Krunchy Chicken introduced several successful menu innovations and limited-time offers, it said. This includes the launch of the updated Cajun Chicken Sandwich, which quickly became a standout in the competitive chicken sandwich market. The sandwich was named a winner in CSP’s 2024 Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest.
Meal Deal
The brand said it also brought new relevance to its core menu by introducing its $4 Value Meal in the summer. “Research tells us that consumers choose us for our quality, our value and our craveability,” Norberg said. “We quickly responded to the growing demand for even greater value in today’s economic climate with the $4 Value Meal, offering a fresh, craveable meal at an exceptional price point.”
Krispy Krunchy Chicken plans to introduce more innovations in 2025, including new products and partnerships designed to increase customer satisfaction and growth.
In 2024, Krispy Krunchy was featured in several USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards and picked as one of “Eat This, Not That’s” Fastest Growing Restaurants. Yelp! ranked the brand on its Fastest Growing Brands of 2024 list, a distinction driven entirely by the increase in search and mentions by consumers.
Rolling out third-party delivery, featuring partners like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub, was a focus in 2024 and has already started to pay off, Krispy Krunchy Chicken said.
“Consolidating third-party providers into one menu management tool through [restaurant technology provider]Olo, Krispy Krunchy began signing up stores mid-year and ended the year with nearly 500 stores on the platform,” Krispy Krunchy Chicken said. “The tool has lowered commission fees for most operators and has reduced complexity by allowing stores to eliminate multiple tablets from multiple partners.”
Initial sales have been strong, even when unexpected, Krispy Krunchy Chicken said.
“On Thanksgiving, we saw our volumes nearly double, and Christmas Day delivered sales at nearly four times our usual rate,” Norberg said. “Our operators have been extremely satisfied with this program, and we’ll be expanding it throughout 2025. It’s just one more way we help bring customers their favorite fried chicken, whenever and wherever they want it.”
Founded in Louisiana in 1989, Krispy Krunchy Chicken is a quick-serve solution for convenience stores, truckstops, universities, casinos and big-box retailers across the United States. The store-in-store concept allows licensees to serve fried chicken and a full menu that also includes a variety of sides and the brand’s trademarked honey biscuits.
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