Franchising

Southern Classic Chicken signs multi-unit deal for Louisiana

Provided

December 30, 2021

Louisiana-based Southern Classic Chicken has signed a development deal to bring the fried chicken company to the New Orleans region, according to a press release.

The locations will be owned and operated by SCC Foods, LLC and Ikonik Restaurant Brands, LLC. The principal behind those entities include David Halpern, a New Orleans-based attorney and entrepreneur who has interests in multiple restaurant concepts who brings experience as a franchisee in both the Ruth's Chris Steak House and Smoothie King systems. Also investing along with Halpern are Tom O'Keefe, Nick Binnings, Glen Armantrout, and Casey Levy, who add more than 100 years of combined executive-level experience.

"This development deal is particularly special for Tom and me," Nick Binnings, director of brand development for Southern Classic Chicken, said in the release. "As members of the Southern Classic Chicken leadership team, we are thrilled to make the transition to becoming franchise partners. We believe that working alongside our franchisees and having a close relationship with the brand's founding family has provided us with the right ingredients to enable our new locations to thrive."

The development deal is expected to open its first location in the New Orleans region by Fall 2022 with the others following shortly after. SCC Foods, LLC has set a goal of opening a minimum of 10 Southern Classic Chicken locations over the next five to seven years.

"Considering their backgrounds, we have no doubt that David, Nick, Tom, Glen, and Casey will successfully integrate Southern Classic Chicken into new communities," Alan Fanning, a member of the founding family Southern Classic Chicken, said in the release. "We couldn't think of a better team to help us expand our presence in our home state of Louisiana."

Southern Classic Chicken was founded in 1989 and will soon have 17 locations throughout the south. The company is targeting cities across Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas for franchise expansion.