Operations

Chester’s Chicken launches Express model for smaller-footprint locations

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October 8, 2026

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Chester's Chicken has introduced Chester's Express, a new grab-and-go format designed to help operators with limited kitchen space serve the brand's signature fried chicken without traditional fryers or ventilation hoods, the company has announced in a press release.

The model features fully cooked menu items prepared in high-speed ovens, including chicken tenders, bites, wings, sandwiches, potato wedges, macaroni and cheese and honey butter biscuits. Select locations will also offer breakfast biscuit sandwiches.

"For nearly 75 years, my family has been committed to providing delicious food in surprising places, and Chester's Express is a natural next step for us," CEO Wynn Giles said in the release. "It gives us another opportunity to grow the brand, offering operators more flexibility while bringing the food our guests love to more communities."

Chester's Express debuted at select test locations in August, with additional openings planned nationwide beginning in October and continuing throughout 2027. The launch follows the introduction of Chester's 2.0 in 2025 and reflects the company's strategy to expand into smaller-footprint locations while providing operators with more flexible foodservice options.