Chicken Salad Chick Signs 25-Unit Upstate New York Franchise

Chicken Salad Chick has signed its largest-ever franchise development agreement, covering 25 units across Upstate New York. The deal, signed earlier in 2026, targets markets including Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and the Upper Hudson Valley.

This record-breaking agreement accelerates the brand's push into the Northeast, a region the company says has strong consumer demand. Chicken Salad Chick is actively seeking new franchise partners in New Jersey, Long Island, and central Pennsylvania as part of this corridor-wide growth.

Expansion across the Northeast corridor

The 25-unit New York deal is part of a series of development agreements signed in New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The brand now operates in all three states. Mark Verges, vice president of franchise development at Chicken Salad Chick, indicated the push is ongoing. "The Northeast represents one of our most exciting growth regions, and we’re just getting started," Verges said.

Franchisee profiles driving local growth

New restaurant openings are being led by a diverse group of franchisees. In Pennsylvania, Amanda and Ernest Greenford, originally from Alabama, opened their first location in Allentown. Amanda brings decades of hospitality management experience, while Ernest is a retired U.S. Army Military Intelligence pilot.

Another Pennsylvania franchisee, Amanda Furiato, is preparing to open in Collegeville. Furiato is a U.S. Air Force veteran with a background in human resources and franchise consulting. Meanwhile, Jacob and Sabrina Longley are developing their first restaurant in South Pittsburgh. Jacob served as a U.S. Marine Corps naval aviator, and Sabrina has extensive hospitality management experience.

In West Virginia, Tammy Hannah, with a background in education and pharmaceutical sales, is expanding the brand's footprint in Barboursville with Dr. Rancie Hannah, a healthcare leader. Emily and Michael Strickland are opening a restaurant in Charleston after their daughter Leah introduced them to the brand. The Stricklands established a foundation awarding scholarships in Leah's honor.

Momentum from strong 2025 performance

The aggressive expansion follows a year of significant growth. In 2025, Chicken Salad Chick awarded nearly 100 new franchise deals and opened 42 locations across 14 states. The company's overall unit count grew from 224 at the start of 2023 to 326 by the end of 2025, with franchising accounting for 93 of those net new units. It now has more than 345 restaurants across 26 states and a development pipeline of over 300 units.

Brand strength and market positioning

The chain's growth is backed by consistent industry recognition and a specific menu focus. It has ranked in the top three in Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers for six consecutive years and was named number one in YouGov's 2026 Top 20 U.S. Emerging Dining Brands.

The brand serves made-from-scratch chicken salad with more than a dozen original flavors, alongside fresh sides, soups, sandwiches, desserts, and catering. Its franchise model, which combines small-business flexibility with corporate support, has attracted interest from Millennial and Gen Z franchisees. Franchised restaurants have an average unit volume of about $1.5 million. The company emphasizes community-first hospitality as it continues to build a development pipeline of over 300 units, targeting further expansion in high-demand Northeastern markets.