Taking Ownership: Wing Zone to Pioneer Chicken Wing Delivery in the Bahamas

Delivery/Take-Out Chicken Wing Franchise Expands Internationally for First Time and Selects the Bahamas 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 the Bahamas this fall.

Experienced franchisees, Michael Turnquest and Roy Nick Dean, have partnered up to bring the first chicken wing delivery chain to the Bahamas for the first time. Turnquest and Dean have signed a six-unit development deal with Wing Zone and will start opening the first of their six locations this fall.

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 Turnquest and Dean about bringing Wing Zone to the Bahamas. The franchise partners signed a development deal late last year, which states their intention to develop six Wing Zone locations across the Bahamas over the next several years.

To prepare for the expansion into the Bahamas, Wing Zone took a good look in the mirror to create a stronger identity with consumers in the Bahamas and is launching a revamped footprint to fit in with the country’s demand. The new footprint will include a new quick casual dining experience with about 15 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.