Noone Leverages 25 Years of Marketing Experience to Lead the Fast-Casual Franchise’s Media Strategy
Slim Chickens, an Arkansas-based fast-casual restaurant franchise, has named Patrick Noone chief marketing officer. Noone applies his 25 years of experience in brand strategy and data-driven marketing to strengthening Slim’s brand positioning and enhancing guest engagement. Greg Vojnovic, the fast-casual franchise’s new CDO, joins Noone on the leadership team.
“Slim Chickens has built something truly special – an authentic brand rooted in culture, quality and a fiercely loyal following,” Noone said. “My mission is to amplify what makes this brand exceptional and accelerate customer acquisition, strengthen guest loyalty and equip franchisees with the tools they need to dominate their local markets. This is about smart, scalable growth that drives long-term success for both the brand and our franchise partners.”
Working with CEO Tom Gordon and the rest of the leadership team to simplify the brand’s marketing strategy is an attractive aspect of the role, Noone said. “We have a ton of latitude to get radical and try some things that other brands might shy away from,” Noone said. “We use real chicken tenderloins; we brine; we buttermilk; and we bread by hand. The story behind our food is unparalleled, and I’m excited that I get to be the one to help tell it to the world.”
Noone also said the brand’s headquarters in Arkansas was a factor in his decision to accept the opportunity. “I think my family and I were called to live somewhere more in tune with our values,” he said. “When I heard Slim was based in Arkansas, I thought, ‘This is it.’ And it was.”
His professional background includes consulting for emerging and established restaurant brands, as well as leadership roles at Domino’s Pizza, Krispy Kreme, Checkers & Rally’s, and Noodles & Company. While at Noodles & Company, Noone’s marketing strategy played a key role in the brand’s initial public offering.
Gordon cited Noone’s successful track record, particularly with Noodles & Company, as well as Krispy Kreme. “His ability to blend compelling storytelling with data-driven insights and operational expertise will be a game-changer as we continue expanding. With Patrick at the helm of our marketing efforts, we’re ensuring that our growth is strategic, sustainable and beneficial for both our franchise partners and our guests,” Gordon said.
Investing in Marketing Initiatives
Being able to measure the return on investment matters when it comes to implementing and improving marketing initiatives, Noone said. “If you can’t quantify the return you are getting on every dollar you spend on social media, discounts and third-party promotions, it’s hard to know what your next move should be,” he said. “The most successful brands are the ones that have all of their owners and operators aligned with one strategy. And the only way to get there is to let the data drive and communicate the impact of every major initiative clearly to the system so everyone knows what worked and what didn’t.”
In his free time, Noone enjoys playing the pipe organ and spending time in the woods hunting and cutting firewood. He also likes to dine at Slim Chickens; his go-to order is a Classic Meal with Cayenne Ranch and Slim Sauce, fried okra and peach tea.
About Slim Chickens
Since its founding in 2003, Slim Chickens has grown to 300-plus units across the U.S., Turkey, Germany and the United Kingdom, with a pipeline of over 1,200 locations in development.
