Chicken sales, Popeyes wraps, Miller’s CEO

The chicken category’s sales decelerated for the second year in a row in 2025. New Top 500 data from Technomic shows that the category’s sales increased 5.3% last year, compared to 9.

1% in 2024 and more than 12% in 2023. Last year, the category was especially impacted by slowing momentum among its bigger players. Wingstop’s sales grew 11% in 2025, for example, compared to nearly 37% the year prior.

The category has also become quite crowded, perhaps slowing sales at those biggest players and impacting the overall segment. The total number of chicken chain locations has surged by over 46% in the last decade. That said, there are still plenty of highlights in chicken, including Dave’s Hot Chicken, which grew sales by 51% last year.

Speaking of chicken, Popeyes has made its chicken wraps a permanent menu item. The chain first launched wraps as a limited time offer last summer. They are now available in classic, spicy and blackened ranch flavors for $3.99, or as a bundle featuring two wraps and a premium lemonade for $9.99. Chicken wraps have become a major battleground in the past two years, with brands from McDonald’s to Long John Silver’s adding their interpretations.

Miller’s Ale House promoted its COO to CEO. Joel Chick joined Miller’s last March after working in operations leadership at Outback Steakhouse and Red Lobster. He replaces Brett Patterson, who left in February to become Portillo’s CEO. Atlanta-based Miller’s is a bar and grill concept with 115 locations.