Former Inspire Brands Executive Now Leads Franchise Development for Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Franchise
Dave’s Hot Chicken, a leading Nashville-style hot chicken franchise, has named Joshua Liggins vice president of franchise development. Liggins previously served as director of franchising for Inspire Brands. He now focuses on supporting Dave’s existing franchisees while identifying high-potential markets and evaluating strategic trade areas for future growth.
“Hot chicken has taken the world by storm, and Dave’s immediately stood out as a special brand,” Liggins said. “The energy, culture and the way people talk about Dave’s — both inside and outside the system — are different. When you hear about the strength of the model and see the commitment from franchisees, it gets your attention. This is an organization that truly invests in its franchisees, team members and leadership.”
Liggins said his top priority is helping franchisees reach their full growth potential. “With most domestic territories already committed, the focus now is on disciplined execution — securing the right real estate, opening restaurants the right way and protecting the consistency that has fueled Dave’s growth,” he said. “Being part of a brand with strong fundamentals and significant runway is something I take seriously, and I’m proud to help guide its continued expansion.”
Global Expansion
Jim Bitticks, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken, emphasized the significance of Liggins’ contributions to the company’s expansion strategy. “With his deep franchising experience and disciplined approach to development, Joshua will play a critical role as we expand across traditional, nontraditional and international channels,” Bitticks said.
Dave’s recently partnered with United Kingdom-based Azzurri Group to expand the brand’s global footprint, highlighting its strategy of working with experienced multi-unit operators who have the infrastructure to develop full regions at scale.
“Balancing momentum with discipline is what allows a concept to scale without losing what made it successful in the first place,” Liggins said, adding that successful franchise development hinges on a strong business model, disciplined execution and close alignment with operations and marketing. “As the saying goes, until you’ve mastered the model, you shouldn’t spend a dollar marketing it. When the product, operations and development teams are aligned — and franchisee profitability remains the priority — the brand scales the right way.”
Multifaceted Experience
Liggins began his career in franchising in 2018 as a franchise sales manager for Quiznos. He previously worked as a middle school math teacher and played professional basketball internationally, including in Germany, Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic. “That experience exposed me to different cultures and perspectives at an early age, which has been incredibly valuable in the diverse world of franchising.”
Liggins credited the franchising and restaurant development leaders with whom he has worked throughout his career for shaping his approach to franchise development. “Sustainable growth only works when it is built on discipline. Strong operations, simple systems, clear development processes and thoughtful market planning must come first. Dave’s can remain competitive by focusing on those fundamentals.”
About Dave’s Hot Chicken
Founded in early 2017 by Arman Oganesyan, classically trained chef Dave Kopushyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan, Dave’s Hot Chicken specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken tenders, sliders and bites with spice levels ranging from “No Spice” to “Reaper.”
