Multi-unit franchisees Shae and Blake Fuller have opened their fifth Chicken Salad Chick location in Brandon, Miss., bringing the fast-casual chicken salad chain's statewide total to 11 restaurants. The new unit, at 1480 West Government Street, debuted September 15 with a week-long grand opening promotion offering the first 100 guests in line free chicken salad for a year.
The Franchise Story
The Fullers entered the Chicken Salad Chick system in 2018 with a Flowood location and have expanded methodically across the state, adding units in Madison, Hattiesburg, and Ridgeland before Brandon. That kind of deliberate, market-by-market scaling within a single state is a model the broader fast-casual franchise sector is watching closely, as operators seek to build regional density rather than scatter units across distant markets.
"Reaching our fifth opening is something I'm incredibly proud of," said Blake Fuller, co-owner of Chicken Salad Chick of Brandon. "Brandon has embraced Chicken Salad Chick in such a meaningful way, and we're grateful for the trust this community has placed on us."
Unit Format and Operations
The Brandon restaurant operates Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and offers in-restaurant dining, drive-thru, takeout, third-party delivery, and catering — a full-channel setup that reflects the chain's push to capture multiple dayparts and revenue streams. The menu centers on more than a dozen made-from-scratch chicken salad flavors alongside fresh sides, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches, and desserts.
Scott Deviney, CEO and president of Chicken Salad Chick, framed the Brandon opening as both a brand milestone and a vote of confidence in the Fullers' operational track record. "Blake and Shae have built something special across Mississippi," Deviney said, "and we look forward to seeing their impact as Chicken Salad Chick becomes Brandon's go-to spot for great food and genuine hospitality."
Community Giving
The Brandon opening also highlights a CSR thread woven into Chicken Salad Chick's franchise model. The brand's CSC Foundation supports CURE Childhood Cancer and local food banks year-round, and the Brandon team used pre-opening Friends & Family events to raise funds for Children's Hospital of Mississippi. For multi-unit operators, community-giving programs increasingly function as a guest-acquisition and brand-loyalty tool — an area where independent and franchise restaurant operators alike are investing more intentionally.
With more than 345 restaurants across 25 states, Chicken Salad Chick continues expanding its footprint through franchise partnerships. The Mississippi market, now at 11 units, stands as one of the chain's denser state concentrations — a signal that the brand sees strong long-term demand in the Southeast.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
