Franchising

Layne's Chicken Fingers celebrates 50 restaurants; rapid Q2 growth

Photo: Layne's Chicken Fingers

July 22, 2026

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Layne's Chicken Fingers awarded two dozen new franchise deals in the first half of 2026, expanding its operating footprint to more than 50 restaurants through a blend of both internal and external development, according to a press release.

The Texas-based franchise reached its 50-restaurant milestone during the second quarter. Driven by expanding existing operators and new franchisees joining the system, Layne's established a 12-unit deal in California with tenured IHOP operators and a 30-unit agreement in Oklahoma with existing franchisee Taylor Thomas.

"We've added dozens of units to the pipeline this year, and we've also opened a significant number," CEO Garrett Reed said in the press release. "The energy is so cool. I've been in this industry for 30-plus years, and the journey I've had with Layne's has been unique. It's like being a parent. We've created this entity, and now we're teaching it how to walk and talk. Similar to my parental feelings, I'm overwhelmed, joyful and excited about every accomplishment this 'child' has. It's this bouquet of emotions all occurring at once, and it's the coolest thing in the world to be a part of a brand that has been growing year-over-year."

Thomas, a multi-unit Layne's and Whataburger franchisee who recently executed three restaurant openings in 60 days, noted the brand's outsized customer loyalty.

"Layne's has 51 units open right now, but when you talk to Layne's fans, based on the passion and visibility they have, you'd think Layne's was a 500-unit brand," Thomas said in the press release. "Seeing this, combined with the steady support of the senior leadership team, makes me so excited for Oklahoma."

As the development pipeline grows, leadership remains focused on brand identity, culture, and support infrastructure.

"For many brands, the 50-unit mark is where you turn from an emerging or startup brand to a 'real company,'" Reed added. "We've been focused on the structure and support of Layne's since the beginning, and reaching that milestone knowing that we already have such strong scaffolding in place feels great. Still, as we continue working to ensure the resources are always available before they're needed, this milestone has marked a new phase for us where we're doing things at an even higher level, and I can't wait to see where that takes us."