Gaining Fans, One Bite at a Time

Krispy Krunchy Chicken has been winning converts with its fried chicken franchises in gas stations and convenience stores.

June 22, 2018

ALEXANDRIA, La. – If you’ve eaten Krispy Krunchy Chicken, then you know what all the fuss is about—the fried chicken franchise found in convenience stores and gas stations has legions of fans across the country, USA Today reports.

Chicken has become king lately, with fast-food menus boasting chicken sandwiches and nuggets, and the four fried chicken restaurants (Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Wingstop and Zaxby’s) snagging spots in the top 10 fastest-growing QSR chains in the United States, according to Technomics.

Krispy Krunchy Chicken (KKC) isn’t a traditional franchise, but rather a “branded concept,” according to Allison Shapiro, director of communications and technology. “The only thing that the operator pays for the KKC concept is equipment and graphics. No franchise fees, no royalty fees, and all training is free.”

Founded by Neal Onebane in 1989, KKC started in his Lafayette, La., convenience store. From the beginning, KKC has focused on partnering with convenience stores and supermarkets. Franchisees such as Shobhan Chokshi, who owns and operates two Philadelphia c-stores with Krispy Krunchy Chicken, “wanted to do something more unique than the typical roller grill or pizza.”

“People still expect dry chicken that’s been sitting out for hours,” Chokshi said. “The conversation I have the most with my customers is them saying ‘wow, I did not expect this to be so good.’”

Check out “A Fowl Mood” from NACS Magazine for more about chicken at convenience stores.

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