Three new franchisees includes a 12-unit deal with the Foundry Group.
By Andrew Carlo
Fast-casual restaurant concept Chicken Salad Chick has outlined franchise growth moves in Florida.
This year, Chicken Salad Chick has opened six new Florida locations in 2025 and sold 13 additional stores for future development throughout the state. While noting that the Southeast— and specifically Florida—continue to be strong markets, the brand also announced that it has signed three new franchise agreements in the state.
The latest franchisees include Cathy and James Brown, and Allison and Stuart Gibson in Viera, Florida; Holly and Chris Eakes in Lakeland; and the Foundry Group in Orlando.
“We are excited to partner with business owners in a region of the nation where Chicken Salad Chick continues to thrive,” said Mark Verges, vice president of Franchise Development at Chicken Salad Chick. “Each of these franchisees bring extensive business knowledge, unique backgrounds, and a genuine passion for the brand. We know they will be great representatives as we expand our footprint in Florida.”
The Browns bring 16 years of franchising experience, while James, a Marine Corps veteran, continues to lead with service-driven values. Their daughter Allison is following in their footsteps as a business owner, combining her background in sales and marketing with her husband Stuart’s passion for learning and growth, Chicken Salad Chick said.
Clearwater native Holly Eakes and her husband Chris bring a mix of restaurant roots and business leadership to the brand. Having grown up in her father’s restaurants, Holly developed a lifelong passion for hospitality, while Chris currently oversees IT operations for BayCare Health System. The Eakes family looks forward to introducing Chicken Salad Chick to the Largo community and furthering the brand’s presence in the Tampa Bay area.
In Orlando, the Foundry Group is known for combining art and science in business, the brand said. The Foundry Group will bring 12 new Chicken Salad Chick locations to central Florida. With extensive experience in real estate, finance, and project management, Chicken Salad Chicks said the Foundry team was drawn to the brand’s proven business model and its focus on consistency, quality, and heartfelt service.
In the first half of 2025, Chicken Salad Chick said that it celebrated a string of grand openings across the country. Franchise development has also identified Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and West Virginia as target growth states with high economic potential. The brand saw a 13% increase in unit count year-over-year.
Last year, Chicken Salad Chick reported over $394.2 million in system wide sales. Founded in Auburn, Alabama by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 307 restaurants in 22 states.
To learn more about opportunities with Chicken Salad Chick visit http://www.chickensaladchick.com/franchising.
