Chicken Salad Chick to Open New Locations in Viera, Lakeland, and Orlando

Chicken Salad Chick is expanding its presence in Florida with three new franchise agreements. The agreements will result in new locations in Viera, Lakeland, and Orlando, contributing to the brand's growth in the Southeast region.

In Viera, Florida, the franchise will be operated by Cathy and James Brown, along with Allison and Stuart Gibson. The Browns have 16 years of experience in franchising, and James Brown is a Marine Corps veteran. Their daughter, Allison, brings a background in sales and marketing, while her husband, Stuart, focuses on learning and growth.

In Lakeland, Florida, the franchise will be managed by Holly and Chris Eakes. Holly Eakes has a background in the restaurant industry, having grown up in her father's restaurants. Chris Eakes oversees IT operations for BayCare Health System. The Eakes family plans to introduce the Chicken Salad Chick brand to the Largo community.

The Foundry Group will oversee the expansion in Orlando, Florida, with plans to open twelve new locations in central Florida. The group has experience in real estate, finance, and project management.

These franchise agreements are part of Chicken Salad Chick's continued expansion in Florida, where it has already opened six new locations in 2025 and sold 13 additional stores for future development. The state ranks among the top growth markets, with Chicken Salad Chick attracting experienced multi-unit operators.

In addition to the Florida expansion, Chicken Salad Chick is targeting growth in other states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and West Virginia. The brand reported a 13% increase in unit count year-over-year and over $394.2 million in system-wide sales in 2024.