--- title: "Why Multi-Brand Owners Invest in Layne's Chicken Franchise" url: https://burnaze.com/article/98cc5ba2-9e6c-41bd-a23b-14186d69b85b source: "1851 Franchise" original_url: https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/laynes-chicken-franchise-multi-brand-owners-2730365 category: "Chicken" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Chicken" published: 2025-10-02T14:09:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T22:33:41.281Z image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/1759081187_2730365.png --- # Why Multi-Brand Owners Invest in Layne's Chicken Franchise **TL;DR:** Layne's Chicken Fingers is attracting multi-brand owners due to its strong growth potential, streamlined operations, and exceptional unit economics. Experienced operators are turning to Layne's as their next investment opportunity, drawn by its unique culture and superior product. *originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2025-10-02. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/laynes-chicken-franchise-multi-brand-owners-2730365).* ## Key facts - Experienced operators invest in Layne's Chicken Fingers - Layne's has a strong culture and leadership - The brand offers a unique opportunity for growth ## Story While legacy brands like Wendy’s, Arby’s and Whataburger have long dominated the fast casual and quick-service restaurant space, a growing number of experienced operators are turning to Layne’s Chicken Fingers as their next investment opportunity. In addition to its streamlined operations, exceptional unit economics and an unmatched culture, Layne’s has something many of the big-name brands can’t offer: growth potential. “Layne’s has the backing of a highly experienced team and a passionate, successful group of franchisees,” said CEO Garrett Reed. “We’ve proven our strength as a business model with multiple six-figure openings and steady traffic and revenue growth, but unlike other big players in the space, we still have notable white space across the country. Layne’s offers the support of an established brand with the growth potential of an emerging one.” For many seasoned franchisees, the primary motivation for diversification is the search for additional territory. After building empires with legacy brands, franchisees find their markets and those around them are fully saturated, and their growth potential is hindered. ## Franchisee motivations This was a key driver for Doug McGuire, an Arby’s franchisee in Ohio. “Growth for Arby’s in my market has slowed because it’s quite saturated,” he said. “I wanted to keep growing, and that meant I had to start looking for a new brand. I was drawn to Layne’s because I liked the chicken space, which I believe appeals to all ages and demographics. The product is great, and there’s a significant opportunity for growth in my area.” The chicken market is booming, and there’s plenty of opportunity for growth within it. Still, not all chicken brands are created equal. Experienced operators know that, to win, you need a product that will stand out. For many Layne’s franchisees, a single taste of Layne’s chicken was enough to seal the deal. “We did a lot of side-by-side comparisons with other chicken tender concepts, and nothing stood up to Layne’s,” said Lucas Bergeson, a multi-unit MOOYAH franchisee. Ricki Oberoi, who is growing with Layne’s after building an impressive network of Wendy’s across Texas, had a similar experience. “My son told me that I just *had* to try Layne’s,” he said. “When he introduced me to the product, I was immediately impressed. I especially love the spicy product and french fries.” Having experienced the products for themselves, franchisees can be confident they have a superior product that will give them a competitive edge from day one. “I remember all of the excitement around the brand when we opened in Beaumont. We were the talk of the town in Facebook groups and on the local news, and we had a really long line,” said Masroor Fatany, a Halal Guys franchisee and Layne’s first franchise partner. “That location is directly across the street from a [Raising] Cane’s, and seeing a huge line of cars waiting for us when there is a respectable competitor right across the street made us feel good. We knew we were bringing a really great product to the market, and the response from the community was proof that we were really on to something.” ## Leadership and partnership Unlike the corporate bureaucracy of many larger systems, Layne’s has a culture of direct access to leadership and emphasizes true partnership with its franchise owners. For experienced operators, the opportunity to shape the future of the brand in partnership with a highly qualified leadership team is incredibly fulfilling. For many, the relationship with the leadership team can be just as important as things like average unit volume. “The leadership was a key factor that drew us to the brand,” Bergeson said. “The chief operating officer is someone we really respect and trust.” “At the end of the day, they have such a great team. Every single person I’ve interacted with there is just a 10 out of 10,” Fatany said. “In our industry, if you have a solid franchisor that genuinely cares about your success — not just their own scorecard — it motivates franchisees to push even harder because we’re trying to build something together. At the end of the day, I don’t need an additional unit or two. But if you’re working with a great team, having fun and enjoying the process, it makes everything a lot easier.” ## Menu and operations A focused menu and streamlined operations are critical for successful scale — something established restaurant owners know quite well. Layne’s keeps things simple so owners can ramp fast. By concentrating on what it does best — chicken fingers — the brand holds its edge. “A lot of brands, especially when they start growing very fast, will start complicating things and making the business model more complex,” said Taylor Thomas, a multi-unit Whataburger franchisee. “Layne’s didn't do that.” “We’ve built a model that is simple to execute, profitable and scalable,” said Samir Wattar, chief operating officer. “Our priority continues to be the health of the brand and the franchisees, and welcoming the right kinds of people to the system is a key starting point. We love partnering with experienced restaurant owners and are committed to providing them the tools and support they need to thrive as they bring a new brand into their ecosystems.” For restaurant industry veterans, Layne’s Chicken Fingers checks every box. With the white space of an emerging brand, strong culture, superior product and support structure of a restaurant giant, Layne’s presents a unique opportunity that’s especially attractive to knowledgeable franchise owners who know what they want as they work to diversify their portfolios. ## Entities - 1851 Franchise (publication) - QSR (sector) - Wendy's (company) - Arby's (company) - Layne's Chicken Fingers (company) - Samir Wattar (person) - Garrett Reed (person) - unit economics (topic) - Whataburger (company) - growth potential (topic) - Masroor Fatany (person) - Taylor Thomas (person) --- Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/laynes-chicken-franchise-multi-brand-owners-2730365). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/98cc5ba2-9e6c-41bd-a23b-14186d69b85b).