Brand’s First Franchisee Signs Agreement for More Units as The Big Biscuit Continues Disciplined Growth Across Almost 40 Locations
- Restaurant industry veterans including Steve Zahn have signed multi-unit franchise deals propelling The Big Biscuit’s expansion.
- Zahn has seven restaurants open and two more in development as The Big Biscuit franchise expands to almost 40 locations across Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
- The brand’s operational efficiency, daytime hours, high-quality breakfast and lunch offerings, and corporate support appealed to Zahn.
Steve Zahn (above) had more than 30 years of experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, so he recognized a strong franchise opportunity when he saw one. The Big Biscuit, founded in 2000, captured his attention. When the brand began franchising in 2019, Zahn was all in, entering a multi-unit agreement to bring the breakfast and lunch franchise to Oklahoma. He recently signed a new multi-unit franchise deal, bringing his total investment to nine restaurants across the state – seven open and two more in development.
The Big Biscuit appealed to Zahn for several reasons. “They created what I feel is operational excellence. We offer full service, but ticket times average only six minutes; the systems in place make this possible. The daytime hours also appealed to me, as well as The Big Biscuit’s high-quality breakfast product. I may be biased a little bit,” he says with a chuckle, “but I pretty much speak the truth on that.”
Zahn praised the corporate team for its support and for designing a system that’s easy to replicate and scale. “We have a great relationship with corporate. They value the franchisee and are thoughtful about who they expand with. That’s hard to find in franchising these days,” he says. “They’re big enough that we can expand regionally and nationwide, but small enough that I can call, talk to somebody and get something resolved very quickly.”
Strategic Franchise Growth
Zahn’s latest multi-unit franchise deal comes during one of the most active periods of growth in the brand’s history. The Big Biscuit’s expansion over the past six-plus months has included new restaurant openings in Kansas and Arkansas, extending its reach into new markets while deepening its presence in existing ones. The brand now approaches 40 corporate and franchise locations across its home state of Missouri, as well as Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Seasoned industry veterans, in addition to Zahn, are helping fuel growth as multi-unit franchise owners in places such as Columbia, Mo., and Rogers, Ark.
“The Big Biscuit has seen strong momentum throughout 2025 and 2026. We are driving new occasions, expanding our revenue channels, sentiment is high and our innovation is being well received,” says Marita Swift, Vice President of Growth.
“Steve’s agreement is a testament to the brand’s direction for 2027 and beyond. We are thrilled by his continued commitment to our brand and the strength of what we’ve built together in Oklahoma,” CEO Chad Offerdahl says. “As we continue to grow our footprint, excellent operators like Steve are the reason our communities welcome The Big Biscuit with open arms.”
Nostalgia Is Trending
The Big Biscuit – as its name indicates – is all about serving generous portions of All-American breakfast and lunch favorites. That focus has propelled The Big Biscuit’s expansion and resonates beyond the communities in America’s heartland, where the brand has proliferated. According to a recent Forbes article entitled, “The Secret Ingredient in Food Brand Strategy Is Nostalgia,” consumers increasingly gravitate toward comforting experiences, prompting the food and beverage industry to shift its focus “from relentless novelty to leveraging familiarity and consumer trust.”
Another article published by The Food Institute cites a Rubix Foods survey showing that 32% of participants turn to a certain restaurant specifically for comfort, while 23% flock to restaurants that feel nostalgic.
Asked for his take, multi-unit franchise owner Zahn says, “People have always loved hearty, good-quality food served efficiently in a welcoming environment. Some people might think that’s nostalgic, but I see it as a smart approach that will continue to drive The Big Biscuit’s success.”
Community Focus
“We appeal to a wide demographic,” says Vice President of Operations Scott Jayne. “The Big Biscuit is a community-centric brand. We run multiple brand-wide campaigns year-round to build awareness of our pillars of purpose: food insecurity, public education and community. Giving back in these ways is important to the teams to know they are a part of something bigger than themselves, and it resonates with guests across our footprint.”
The Big Biscuit’s community-centered focus also appealed to Zahn, whose restaurants are in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Edmond, Owasso, Midwest City and Oklahoma City, with more development underway in Oklahoma City and Norman. “I’m in a lot of small communities, and the heart and soul of our business is the community,” he says.
Creating a welcoming environment with hometown hospitality is central to The Big Biscuit model – and for Zahn. “The guest experience starts with the restaurant, but most importantly, it’s the people that we’ve been able to attract and retain – our servers and our back-of-the-house team who just exemplify what we’re about.”
Zahn has played an active role in The Big Biscuit’s community initiatives, launching the brand’s annual “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive in Oklahoma to support local public school students and teachers. The initiative has since grown into a brand-wide campaign, now entering its fourth consecutive year across The Big Biscuit’s footprint. Zahn also participates in Pajama Jam, The Big Biscuit’s annual pajama collection benefiting children experiencing poverty, along with other initiatives focused on teacher appreciation, food insecurity and local community partnerships.
For more information about franchise opportunities with The Big Biscuit, visit the brand’s website.
