QSR Names The Red Chickz to The 2022 40/40 List

The Red Chickz was commended for positioning itself as a differentiator in the Nashville hot chicken category, their app which helps connect the brand to consumers during the pandemic, and their incredible achievement of reaching social media fame with just one location open.

This year’s QSR 40/40 List shows that The Red Chickz have proven to be a fierce competitor in the Nashville hot chicken scene. Not only has the brand gone above and beyond by creating a unique variety of menu items, but their massive following of one million on Tik Tok and over 105,000 on Instagram has certainly helped raise brand awareness nationwide.

“To be recognized for our hard work and dedication to innovating in the fast-casual dining space by a notable publication like QSR is such an honor,” said Shawn Lalehzarian, Founder of The Red Chickz. “This acknowledgement proves that we are achieving major success and further fuels our desire to continue staying ahead of industry trends to ensure we are creating an exceptional fast-casual dining experience.”

After immigrating to the United States from Iran, Lalehzarian found his first job working at a local restaurant in San Diego washing dishes. Not knowing much English at the time, he was able to improve his communication skills significantly as he discovered his passion for the restaurant industry. As he progressed through his career, he was promoted to higher-up positions and eventually landed a senior management role and it was then he realized his dream was to open his own restaurant.

As a result, in 2018, The Red Chickz was then born. In 2021, Lalehzarian launched the franchise program for the Nashville hot chicken brand, showing that Shawn and The Red Chickz are a true example of the American dream.

“We are exceeding the goals I set when I first started The Red Chickz and I can’t wait for the next step in our growth,” said Lalehzarian.