Taking Ownership: Wing Zone to Pioneer Chicken Wing Delivery in Japan

Delivery/Take-Out Chicken Wing Franchise Expands Internationally for First Time and Selects Japan as Key International Growth Market

While many brands are in limbo, shuffling to strategize their economic stability plan, Wing Zone, a 100-unit chicken wing delivery/take-out specialist and the nation’s authority of flavor and ambassadors of sauce, is progressing forward. In fact, Wing Zone will pioneer unchartered territory, as the first chicken wing delivery chain to step outside of the United States and into Japan later this year.

Experienced franchisees, Richard Dare and Pacific Rim Partners, have partnered up to bring the first chicken wing delivery chain to Japan for the first time. Richard Dare and Pacific Rim Partners have signed a 25-unit development deal with Wing Zone and will start opening the first of their 25 locations later this year.

Matt Friedman, CEO and Founder of Wing Zone, noted that the popularity of Buffalo chicken wings in the states prompted Wing Zone to think outside-of-the-box in their development strategy. “We sold more than 47 million wings last year,” he said, “why shouldn’t consumers of all cultures be able to experience our flavors?”

In late 2009, Friedman and the Wing Zone team began talking with Richard Dare and Pacific Rim Partners about bringing Wing Zone to Japan. The franchise partners signed a development deal late last year, which states their intention to develop 25 Wing Zone locations across Japan over the next several years.

To prepare for the expansion into Japan, Wing Zone took a good look in the mirror to create a stronger identity with consumers in Japan and is launching a revamped footprint to fit in with the country’s demand. The footprint will range from Wing Zone’s already established takeout/delivery model to the new quick casual dining experience with about 10 seats.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Friedman, noting that Wing Zone has created an international distribution method to maintain consistent flavor and taste. “Not only have we repositioned ourselves to better connect with multi-unit/multi-brand franchisees by simplifying our operations, systems, branding, and marketing, but we have created a concept that is friendly, worldwide.”

“We have been a good franchise brand for 10 years. Now we will turn great,” Friedman said.