Taylor Thomas, who has helped
grow the franchise portfolio started by his father, connected right
away with Layne's focus on simplicity, quality and, most
importantly, family.
DALLAS, June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Taylor Thomas, a seasoned entrepreneur with a
deep-rooted history in the franchise industry, is making waves in
East Texas as the newest
franchisee of Layne's Chicken Fingers, the Soon to be Famous™
chicken finger franchise. Having signed on to open 25 units across
the region, Thomas is poised to reshape the local dining scene,
emphasizing community involvement and a top-tier product that
resonates with his Texas
values.
Thomas' introduction to the entrepreneurial world started with a
Whataburger franchise that his father purchased back in 1989.
"After I earned my master's degree in 2016, I joined the family
business with a vision to expand," he said. "Once we maxed out our
territory, it was time to find a new brand that aligned with our
aspirations for growth and community connection."
As someone intimately familiar with the restaurant industry,
Thomas knew there was no shortage of options.
"When we first started looking, we were only looking at major
brands," Thomas said. "But we realized that the bigger the brand,
the more likely that family-owned atmosphere goes away. There was a
disconnect there. We want to feel like we can bounce off ideas and
help the whole brand grow. The restaurant business isn't easy — it
never has been. So it's important to have that collaboration
between the franchisee and franchisor."
The introduction to Layne's Chicken Fingers came to Thomas
serendipitously. "We were out eating one night and one of our
buddies brought up Layne's," he said. "We didn't even know the
brand. We went to check it out, started talking with the team,
visited some locations in Dallas
and fell in love with the product. It was really everything we were
after."
Thomas was particularly drawn to Layne's Chicken Fingers for its
strong emphasis on maintaining a family-oriented culture, even as
the brand grows. He was also impressed by the simplicity and
quality of Layne's operations and its well-defined culture, which
isn't always easy to find.
"A lot of brands, especially when they start growing very fast,
will start complicating things and making the business model more
complex," Thomas said. "Layne's didn't do that."
And when it comes to that culture, Thomas says meeting with the
leadership team gave him all the insight he needed. "[Layne's CEO]
Garrett [Reed] brought his son
along, which I thought was great — we hadn't experienced a
family-owned business in a long time," he said. "That was a big
positive for us."
Overall, Thomas's decision to partner with Layne's was driven by
three main criteria: simplicity, quality and a focus on family.
"Layne's hits all these marks, and their strong Texas roots only made the decision easier," he
said. "We are Texas people at
heart."
With plans to open the first location in Tyler by the end of the year, Thomas is
committed to a long-term vision of expansion — he's signed on to
open 25 stores over the next decade.
"It's not just about growing a business, but also enriching the
communities we enter," Thomas said. "Introducing this concept to my
hometown is a fantastic feeling. I can't tell you how many phone
calls I've already received from people who heard about this plan
and are so excited we are bringing Layne's to this area."
Layne's Chicken Fingers is making significant strides as the
Soon to be Famous™ chicken franchise. The brand has already signed
on for a whopping 91 new restaurants through eight franchise
agreements in the first quarter of 2024 alone and expects 10 more
openings this year, including locations in Nashville, Tennessee; Janesville, Wisconsin; and Roswell, Georgia — the brand's first locations
in each state.
"We are thrilled to welcome Taylor to the Layne's family as he
embarks on this exciting venture in East
Texas," said Samir Wattar,
chief operating officer of Layne's Chicken Fingers. "His extensive
experience in the franchise industry and dedication to excellence
are exactly what we look for in our partners. Together, we are
looking forward to making Layne's a beloved household name in
East Texas and beyond."
For more information on the costs to buy a Layne's Chicken
Fingers franchise, visit:
https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/.
ABOUT LAYNE'S CHICKEN FINGERS
Founded in 1994 in College
Station, the original location became a Texas A&M legend known for its small-town
charm, friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce.
While opening corporate locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the leadership team
focused on fine tuning its operations and starting to
franchise.
Franchise opportunities range from $545,000 to $1,190,000 with different buildout options
available. Learn more about franchising:
https://layneschickenfranchising.com/
Media Contact
Jessica Tcholakov, Mainland,
3125263996, jtcholakov@hellomainland.com ,
www.hellomainland.com
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SOURCE Layne’s Chicken Fingers