How Slim Chickens’ ‘Fly Thru’ format fits into its broader growth strategy
Slim Chickens expands with innovative 'Fly-Thru' drive-thru-only locations to boost growth.
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Slim Chickens has opened its third 'Fly-Thru' drive-thru-only location as part of a broader growth strategy focusing on flexibility and convenience. The chain, which operates 215 locations and generated $469.3 million in sales in 2025, aims to attract more franchisees and adapt to consumer demand. The brand is also evaluating additional real estate opportunities in several states.
Why It Matters
This expansion into drive-thru-only formats may increase territory availability for franchisees, while also refining unit economics and operational insights for future developments.
Slim Chickens continues its aggressive growth trajectory, recently introducing its innovative "Fly-Thru" drive-thru-only model, which is part of a broader strategy to diversify real estate formats and attract new franchisees. The chain, which operates primarily in the chicken segment, closed 2025 with 215 units and reported systemwide sales of $469.3 million, reflecting a 3.9% and 1.8% increase, respectively, amidst a challenging dining landscape.
The brand has now launched three Fly-Thru locations, with the latest in Ashland, Kentucky, following previous openings in Gray, Georgia, and Fayetteville, Arkansas. This model is tailored to meet the growing consumer demand for off-premises dining options, and it aims to enhance flexibility for franchisees, allowing them to penetrate diverse trade areas and elevate brand visibility. Vice President of Domestic Franchise Growth, Shakon Turner, emphasized the strategic importance of the Fly-Thru format, stating, “We view the Fly-Thru format as a complement to our overall franchise growth strategy, enhancing convenience for guests, and increasing brand awareness, while adding to the range of flexible formats available to franchisees.”
