Chicken Salad Chick hires Popeyes exec to lead franchised growth

Brian Lindley joins the chain as it continues franchised expansion, particularly with younger operators, while reducing the operating costs of its stores.

New title: Chief development officer, Chicken Salad Chick

Previous title: Vice president of development, Popeyes Louisiana Chicken

Leadership and growth

Chicken Salad Chick said in a Monday release that Lindley is tasked with leading the growing chain’s development strategy.

Lindley brings significant QSR experience in “in site selection, dealmaking and scaling brands across diverse markets” from stints at Chick-fil-A and Restaurant Brands International, according to the announcement. According to his LinkedIn profile, Lindley most recently served as VP of development for Popeyes Louisiana Chicken. His Chick-fil-A tenure lasted for more than a decade, giving him ample experience with growing a QSR brand.

That experience should prove useful for the chicken salad franchise, which has announced four openings just in the last week. The brand said in February that it plans to enter the Nevada market . The chain currently has at least 330 stores across 22 states. Lindley will support the chain’s plans to open its first locations in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah and West Virginia later this year. The chain has said it is seeing growing interest from younger franchisees interested in its brand support and the autonomy offered by a franchised system.

Unit economics strategy

Chicken Salad Chick is looking to Lindley to help it reduce the space requirements and occupancy costs for its restaurants, which would improve unit economics and expand the amount of real estate available to the chain. The brand hopes to be more flexible in site selection within retail spaces and non-traditional venues, according to the press release.

A wide variety of chains have shifted toward an emphasis on non-traditional development in recent years. Airports, travel centers and other such locales offer built-in foot traffic for chains looking to capture more diners. The chains interested in these avenues of expansion range from casual dining — Dine Brands is looking at airports as ideal locations for dual branded IHOP/Applebee’s — to QSR snack concepts, like Auntie Anne’s .

• Why Chicken Salad Chick is driving interest from millennial, Gen Z franchisees By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 24, 2026