Openings in Delaware and Maryland are also in the works.
By Andrew Carlo
Rapidly growing food and beverage franchise Slim Chickens revealed that it has signed a new franchise agreement Vigario Management Corp.
The 12-unit deal calls for Vigario to bring Slim Chickens restaurants to Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Vigario is a franchise group based in Manassas, Virginia. The first new location is expected to open within the next 12 months.
Vigario is a family-run business led by CEO Andy Cabral, COO David Cabral, and CFO Marylou Vigario, The group operates 24 Dunkin’ Donuts locations and 9 Baskin-Robbins stores, with several additional openings planned this year.
Slim Chickens specialty is hand-breaded chicken tenders and wings cooked to order and served with house dipping sauces.
“After selling the chicken restaurants we owned for 11 years, we knew we wanted to get back into the chicken segment — but with the right brand,” said Andy Cabral. “When we tried Slim Chickens’ product and met with the team at the finance conference in Las Vegas, it just clicked. The food is outstanding, the culture is strong, and the available markets align with our operational goals. It was a perfect fit.”
Along with its franchise operations, Vigario’s portfolio includes construction, manufacturing, and commercial real estate. The company is also committed to community support while donating to local food banks, public schools, and organizations like the Joy in Childhood Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Vigario Management team to the Slim Chickens family,” said Jackie Lobdell, vice president of franchise development for Slim Chickens. “Andy, David, and Marylou embody the kind of operational excellence, community engagement, and long-term vision we look for in our multi-unit franchise partners. Their proven success with legacy brands and passion for hospitality will make them tremendous ambassadors as they break into new markets and grow the Slim Chickens brand across the mid-Atlantic.”
Slim Chickens, based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was founded in 2003. The company has more than 240 locations nationally with plans for hundreds of new locations in development both domestically and internationally.
For more information about Slim Chickens franchise opportunities, visit slimchickensfranchise.com.
