Krispy Krunchy Chicken® Concludes 2024 with More Than 600 New Openings
Krispy Krunchy Chicken®, one of the fastest-growing and most successful food concepts in the convenience store (c-store) business, is having an outstanding year in 2024, marked by exceptional growth, menu innovation, and operational improvements. With more than 3,200 locations, the brand continues to redefine expectations in the c-store foodservice sector by providing high-quality, craveable menu items to operators across the United States. Looking ahead, Krispy Krunchy’s future is filled with exciting opportunities, as the brand continues to expand and evolve.
In 2024, Krispy Krunchy opened an impressive 605 new locations, and the company expects even greater expansion in 2025. With an updated organizational structure, new partnerships, innovative products, and cutting-edge platforms, Krispy Krunchy Chicken is speeding up its national expansion at an impressive pace.
Jim Norberg, CEO of Krispy Krunchy Chicken, attributes the brand’s success to its unwavering commitment to prioritizing the profitability of its operators. “We’ve grown on the solid foundation of prioritizing the profitability of our operators through a cohesive brand strategy, strong foundational partnerships, and a focus on innovation,” Norberg said. “These efforts have driven a significant increase in interest throughout the industry, and we continue to be sought out as the preferred foodservice offering.”
To sustain its rapid growth, Krispy Krunchy is focusing on collaboration across sales, operations, marketing, and supply chain management. The company continues to explore new avenues for growth, constantly innovating and finding fresh ways to bring its craveable fried chicken to new locations every day. From creating new products to improving training processes, Krispy Krunchy is always looking for ways to elevate the brand experience and meet consumer demands.
Menu innovation has been at the core of Krispy Krunchy’s success. In 2024, the brand introduced several exciting new menu items and limited-time offers (LTOs) that resonated with customers. One of the standout innovations was the updated Cajun Chicken Sandwich. The sandwich quickly gained popularity in the competitive chicken sandwich market and earned numerous accolades, including being named one of Convenience Store News’ 2024 Best New Products and winning in CSP’s 2024 Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest.
Additionally, in response to rising food costs, Krispy Krunchy introduced the $4 Value Meal, designed to provide customers with an affordable yet high-quality meal. “Research tells us that consumers choose us for our quality, our value, and our cravability,” Norberg said. “We quickly responded to the growing demand for even greater value in today’s economic climate with the $4 Value Meal, offering a fresh, craveable meal at an exceptional price point.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Krispy Krunchy plans to continue its streak of innovation, with new products and strategic partnerships in the pipeline aimed at increasing customer satisfaction and driving growth. The brand’s focus on menu variety and delivering value to its customers ensures it remains a key player in the competitive foodservice industry.
Krispy Krunchy’s remarkable growth and innovation in 2024 did not go unnoticed. The brand received multiple recognitions, including being featured in several USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards and being named one of “Eat This, Not That’s” Fastest Growing Restaurants. Yelp! also ranked Krispy Krunchy as one of its Fastest Growing Brands of 2024, a distinction driven by an increase in search activity and consumer mentions.
Another key development for Krispy Krunchy in 2024 was its expanded use of third-party delivery services. Partnering with delivery giants like DoorDash, UberEats, and GrubHub, Krispy Krunchy made it easier than ever for customers to enjoy their favorite fried chicken at home. By consolidating third-party providers into one menu management tool through OLO, Krispy Krunchy streamlined its delivery process and significantly reduced commission fees for most operators. This simplification also allowed stores to eliminate the need for multiple tablets from different delivery partners.
The rollout of third-party delivery was a resounding success, with early results exceeding expectations. “On Thanksgiving, we saw our volumes nearly double, and Christmas Day delivered sales at nearly four times our usual rate,” Norberg said. “Our operators have been extremely satisfied with this program, and we’ll be expanding it throughout 2025. It’s just one more way we help bring customers their favorite fried chicken, whenever and wherever they want it.”
In conclusion, Krispy Krunchy Chicken’s exceptional growth in 2024 is a testament to the brand’s ability to innovate, adapt, and meet the ever-changing demands of consumers. As the company looks forward to 2025, it is poised to continue expanding its footprint, introducing exciting new products, and providing value to both customers and operators. With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence, Krispy Krunchy Chicken is undoubtedly a brand to watch in the years to come.
