Good morning. Fast-casual restaurant Dave’s Hot Chicken began as a $900 pop-up in a Los Angeles parking lot in 2017. Eight years later, the brand has expanded to over 345 stores worldwide—a remarkable rise from seven locations in early 2020. On Oct. 1, the company announced a partnership with Matternet to launch its first drone-delivery pilot in a Los Angeles suburb, following its entry into the billion-dollar club.
Known for its Nashville-style hot chicken, Dave’s attracted Atlanta-based private equity firm Roark Capital, which specializes in franchised businesses and acquired Subway in 2023. Roark owns two major restaurant holding companies: Inspire Brands (Dunkin’, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic) and GoTo Foods (Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon). Dave’s Hot Chicken was acquired by Roark this past summer for $1 billion and expects to reach 400 stores this year.
Founded by childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy Rubenyan, the company has been led by Bill Phelps, co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels, as CEO since 2019. James McGehee joined as CFO in 2019 after connecting with the team through Wetzel’s. “I’ve been in the restaurant industry and accounting and finance since 1993, but I fell in love with food first,” McGehee told me.
Scott Putman, SVP of finance, who started with Dave’s in 2021, was previously corporate controller for Wetzel’s Pretzels. Many team members at Dave’s have worked with Phelps before. “People aren’t here by accident,” said McGehee, highlighting the team’s work ethic, expertise, and cultural fit.
Under Phelps, the company strengthened its franchise community by selecting experienced, culturally aligned operators, McGehee said. By combining a standout brand, strong franchisees, and expert management, Dave’s accelerated its growth, he said.
According to data from Technomic, a market research firm, Dave’s U.S. sales increased 57% in 2024 and surpassed $600 million. Its menu includes chicken tenders, sliders, and bites, as well as cauliflower alternatives. Spice levels range from mild to the intense “Reaper.”
The company’s success is driven by sustained compound annual growth (around 40% CAGR over five years) and a scalable franchise model, McGehee said.
Gen Z is driving fast-food trends with their love of crispy chicken and bold flavor. And Dave’s has a robust social media following, including 2 million Instagram followers and over 4 million TikTok followers, contributing to its rapid expansion. Celebrity partners like Drake and Samuel L. Jackson also support the brand. Putman works closely with the marketing team, meeting weekly.
Navigating the M&A process
McGehee and Putman faced a complex merger-and-acquisition process. Thirteen groups submitted offers, five groups that were in diligence concurrently, McGehee said.
“With five groups doing diligence on us, you’re here all day, all night,” Putman said.
The two would eventually structure a hybrid asset and stock sale that saved shareholders $32 million in taxes, Putman said. By tailoring the approach to benefit both California and out-of-state investors, the team ensured the financial windfall was broadly shared, he said.
The billion-dollar deal with Roark was not just a payday for executives and founders. “A lot of our employees were able to have a life-changing event,” Putman said. Dave’s team worked for years to build the brand, and many shared in the sale’s success, seeing tangible rewards for their loyalty and hard work, he said. “It just feels so good to know my fellow co-workers have a better life for their families and themselves,” he added. “We fought for that.”
McGehee and Putman are also Dave’s franchisees as well, connecting with their peers annually. In January, the management team hosted an in-person meeting with the entire franchise system.
“What we love the most is the breakout sessions where we’re able to have more concentrated time with our franchise owners and operators,” McGehee said.
Sheryl Estrada
sheryl.estrada@fortune.com
