In 2008, the Chicken Salad Chick concept was born in Auburn, Alabama, in the kitchen of stay-at-home Stacy Brown.
Brown attended the University of Auburn and had always been a lover of chicken salad. On her own personal quest to find the perfect chicken salad, she would order a chicken salad sandwich at every restaurant she entered. Brown began to work on her own original recipe at home and taste tested different recipe varieties on her friends and neighbors. She found recipe gold in a traditional chicken salad, which she suitably named Classic Carol. With a basket on her arm, a nod to the company’s current logo, and four different chicken salad flavors in hand, Brown embarked on her door-to-door delivery service.
Within three weeks, she had more business than she could handle and within two months, Brown’s love for chicken salad had turned into a thriving entrepreneurial business and people took note, including Auburn government officials. When Stacy discovered that the local county health department would not allow her to continue making and selling her delicious recipes out of her home kitchen, she decided to launch her first restaurant with the business expertise of her future husband and fellow founder, Kevin Brown. On January 7, 2008, with four staff members, 40 pounds of chicken salad in 12 flavors, Chicken Salad Chick opened its doors – and drive thru window. Within two hours, the restaurant had completely sold out.
Chicken Salad Chick has continued to grow and today, the brand has more than 40 locations across the Southeast, and has currently sold 141 franchises to be developed across the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. This year, Chicken Salad Chick entered several new markets, such as Charlotte, N.C.; Summerville, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Greensboro, N.C.; Orlando, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; Ormond Beach, Fla.; Roswell, Ga.; Daphne, Ala.; and Asheville, N.C. With 20 new franchise agreements signed in 2015, Chicken Salad Chick is poised for exponential growth throughout 2016. The chicken salad-focused brand is aiming to open at least 40 restaurants in Southern U.S. markets next year, including Florida, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina and Alabama.
Chicken Salad Chick puts an edgy twist on a Southern classic, offering guests a “custom fit” chicken salad experience, with 15 original flavors to choose from, as well as gourmet soups, flavorful side salads and freshly-baked desserts. Chicken Salad Chick is a place all chicken salad lovers can find something they enjoy. With 15 different chicken salads to choose from, there is something for every palate. All of the Chicken Salad Chick delicious scoops, sandwiches and side salads are prepared daily and served in a way that makes customers feel special, which is the Chicken Salad Chick difference.
The chicken salad-based brand also knows how to keep their customer’s taste buds interested and introduces exciting limited time offers several times a year. Currently, the brand’s fall menu includes a Cranberry Apple Salad, Chicken Tortilla Soup and Pumpkin Cheesecake. In addition, the restaurants are featuring a special promotional trio appropriately named Stacy’s Perfect Plate. Stacy’s Perfect Plate features one scoop each of Cranberry Kelli chicken salad and Pimento Cheese alongside Chicken Salad Chick’s signature Broccoli Salad.
“The fall menu items are designed to appeal to guests who crave fresh, seasonal items like apples, cranberry and pumpkin during the fall season,” said Stacy Brown, Chicken Salad Chick founder. “I chose the sweet and savory flavor combination in Stacy’s Perfect Plate because each bite complements the next, and they are a perfect fall trio. All of our new fall menu items are too delicious to be missed.”
And with holiday season in full swing, Chicken Salad Chick is offering exceptional catering items. The Holiday Pimento Cheeseball and Pumpkin Cheesecake make excellent additions for all types of events. Whether tailgating for a football game or hosting a Christmas luncheon at work, the cheeseball and cheesecake are delicious options that fit the flavor of the season. The fall menu items will be available through Jan. 2, 2016 at participating Chicken Salad Chick restaurants.
Chicken Salad Chick’s story and success is built on the dream of Stacy and Kevin Brown, their drive for customer satisfaction, and of course, that original chicken salad recipe. The “secret” recipe is available on their website and includes, “A lotta chicken, barely enough mayonnaise to mention, ½ cup of everything your Mama taught you in the kitchen, 1 cup of love for the people you are serving and a dash of Southern style.” Along with the recipe, the site also gives simple instructions on how to serve the southern favorite: “Keep your head slightly tilted, with a big smile and a little wink as you say, ‘Hope y’all enjoy tha-yat!”
For more information on Chicken Salad Chick, visit http://www.chickensaladchick.com.