Why Chicken Is Booming

ALL THE RAGE | Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 ranking tracks the hottest food categories, and we've seen chicken surging for years. Here's why.

- KIM KAVIN

If you look at how burger franchises developed, there were two big waves. First was the McDonald's and Burger King wave, with a business model that helped parents get burgers with their kids at an affordable price. Then came the gourmet burger wave, with brands such as Five Guys and Burger 21 adding toppings like garlic aioli and cilantro cream.

Experts say that same business pattern is now repeating with chicken. Whereas brands such as KFC, Popeyes, and Church's Chicken are long-established and beloved, a new wave of franchises like Pollo Campero, El Pollo Loco, and the Shaquille O'Nealbacked Big Chicken are offering sandwiches with smashed avocado and low-calorie, fire-grilled chicken breast dinners.