Slim Chickens continues U.S. expansion with new market

Fayetteville-based company Slim Chickens continued its U.S. expansion with a milestone opening earlier this month.

The fast-casual restaurant chain opened a store in Aurora, Colo., on Nov. 18, marking the brand’s entry into the state.

L.O.V.E. Restaurant Group, which has decades of experience as owners of 15 Burger King locations in Denver, signed on for the exclusive franchise rights for all Slim Chickens restaurants to be introduced in Colorado and Utah.

Byron Wheeler, president of L.O.V.E. Restaurant Group, said he anticipates a Colorado market capacity of 23 Slim Chickens, with a capacity in Utah of about 12 locations.

Slim Chickens now has at least one restaurant in 15 states — Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. That’s in addition to a combined seven international stores in Kuwait and the United Kingdom.

Since its founding in 2003, the brand has celebrated over 90 openings, with an overall goal of opening 600 restaurants by 2025.