Franchising

Layne's Chicken Fingers to enter Wyoming

Photo: Layne's Chicken Fingers

April 26, 2024

Layne's Chicken Fingers, a Texas-based chicken franchise known for crispy tenders, is entering Wyoming with its first location planned for Cheyenne, according to a press release.

The franchise agreement was signed with Michael Hickerson, a longtime Layne's fan who worked at the chain's first two locations while a student at Texas A&M. Hickerson's passion for the brand led him to pursue a franchise opportunity, bringing Layne's to his current home in Cheyenne.

"After learning about the history of Layne's and meeting the leadership team, I knew this was an opportunity like no other," Hickerson said in the release. "I'm excited to bring Layne's to my own community and proud to be a part of an iconic brand's takeover story."

Layne's operates 13 restaurants nationwide with an additional 113 franchised locations in development. The company aims to have 50 restaurants open and 200 franchised by 2025.

"We're happy to welcome Michael to the system and know he will represent the brand well in Cheyenne," Samir Wattar, COO, said in the release. "This is the first location in the state, and we're optimistic about our growth in the market

Layne's competes in the over $59 billion fast-food chicken sector, positioning itself as a brand offering modern twists on classic recipes while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere. The company attributes its success to a focus on both product quality and a strong franchisee support system.

Layne's upcoming expansion plans include saturating its home state of Texas before targeting Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Florida.