Zaxby's Franchising raked in $1 billion in gross sales over the past year setting up the company to grow nationally, according to restaurantnews.com.
The company offers chicken fingers, traditional or boneless wings, sandwiches, Zalads and Zappetizers, several sauces from mild to extremely hot. These include the Wimpy and Tongue Torch to Nuclear and Insane Restaurant News reported.
Chief Executive Officer Zach McLeroy told Restaurant News the company's success has continued in 2013.
"So far, 2013 has been a great year for Zaxby's growth. We ranked fourth in growth for fast-casual chicken franchises, fourteenth in the country for growth in fast-casual franchises overall - and hit abillion dollars," McLeroy said. "For a regional, privately-held, fast-causal chicken franchise restaurant company with only 575 locations this is basically unheard of, really huge."
McLeroy told Restaurant News, Zaxby's has reached its milestone because it has been intelligent, and not been in debt.
"By focusing on smart growth - growth that's both culturally and financially sustainable - we 've remained debt-free, while delivering growth quarter after quarter. ZFI's growth this year included an increase in average unit volume and a strategic westward expansion across the U.S.; recently selling the exclusive rights for the entire state of Utah in a single multi-unit deal," he said.
"What I'm the most proud of is our sustainable cultural growth. We've continued to develop and grow our core values of operational excellence, guest focus and developing talent. From our guests having an exceptional dining experience, to the smile they receive at the counter, to our restaurant design - it all comes down to taking the long-term approach with operational excellence, guest focus and training. Ultimately, it's about enriching the lives of everyone the brand touches,"
Zaxby's has locations in 13 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia Restaurant News reported.
