---
title: "Houston TX Hot Chicken Adds Firepower To Franchise Team With New Director"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/961db310-08a5-45a0-8d20-8e7c9b79a688
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20251028_houston_tx_hot_chicken_adds_firepower_to_franchise_team_with_new_director.html
category: "Chicken"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Chicken"
published: 2025-10-28T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T17:42:58.458Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1568901346375-23c9450c58cd?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Houston TX Hot Chicken Adds Firepower To Franchise Team With New Director

**TL;DR:** Houston TX Hot Chicken has hired Andie Smirl as Director of Franchise Sales, bringing nearly a decade of experience in franchise operations and development. The brand, founded by Edmond Barseghian in 2021, partnered with Savory Fund in 2023 to support its growth.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2025-10-28. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20251028_houston_tx_hot_chicken_adds_firepower_to_franchise_team_with_new_director.html).*

## Story

Founded in 2021 by Edmond Barseghian, HHC has evolved from a local favorite into a hot chicken brand. In 2023, it entered into a partnership with Savory Fund, a Utah-based private equity firm that invests into emerging restaurant concepts.

“HHC has an incredibly devoted consumer following, which provides us with a unique opportunity to recreate that contagious energy within the franchisee community,” Smirl said.

Smirl brings nearly a decade of experience in franchise operations and development. She began her franchising journey at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, where she played a key role in supporting the brand’s expansion from the operations side before transitioning into development in 2016. In 2023, she joined Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa to gain cross-industry experience before returning to her restaurant roots — and to her true passion — by joining Houston TX Hot Chicken in 2025.

“Andie’s depth of experience and genuine passion for helping franchise partners succeed make her a tremendous addition to our leadership team,” said Brian Simowitz, President of Houston TX Hot Chicken. “We’re building something special at HHC — a brand with incredible food, an energized culture, and a franchise community that’s as fired up as our chicken. Andie’s leadership will help us take that to the next level.”

Known for its hot chicken sandwiches, tenders, salads, soup, waffle shakes, and loaded fries, the unique eatery has seven signature sauces ranging from “No Spice” to “Honey Butter,” to “Liftoff” to “Houston, We Have a Problem!”

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- QSR (sector)
- private equity (topic)
- franchise sales (topic)
- Fuzzy's Taco Shop (company)
- Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa (company)
- Houston TX Hot Chicken (company)
- Savory Fund (investor)
- restaurant concepts (topic)
- Edmond Barseghian (person)
- Brian Simowitz (person)
- Savory Fund investment in Houston TX Hot Chicken (deal)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20251028_houston_tx_hot_chicken_adds_firepower_to_franchise_team_with_new_director.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/961db310-08a5-45a0-8d20-8e7c9b79a688).