How Wing Zone is Adapting to the Changed Economy

Adam Scott, Founder and COO

During harsh economic times, it takes innovation and new ways of thinking to continue to be successful. That’s exactly what Wing Zone has done to keep relevant during this recession and it’s worked. Among some of the many accomplishments that Wing Zone has achieved over the past two years are international growth, expansion to military bases across the United States, and developing new footprints for its concept.

In late 2009, we announced our international expansion to Panama, Bahamas and Japan. In Panama, with its new franchise partners, Wing Zone will open six locations; in the Bahamas, five locations; and in Japan 50 locations. Not only are we growing internationally, but we are the first wing concept to deliver in these countries as well.

Around the same time last year, we also announced our partnership with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to bring 10 locations to military bases across the country. AAFES, a joint military activity providing quality merchandise and service to active duty, guard and reserve military, military retirees, and their families, is proof that our improvements were impressive, and viable for them to become our first franchisee to sign a double-digit deal.

In addition to looking for new ways to expand in nontraditional ways, we have also supplemented our existing retail design with new footprints to give new and established franchisees a variety of options to fit their needs. Our first footprint is an in line retail space at about 1200 square feet. We now offer franchisees two other options for restaurant build-out including a new modular unit, which is a free standing location, a bit smaller than our original design at around 900 square feet and boosts a drive through. The next is our new Grill & Tap. It is by far our largest design transforming our typical takeout/delivery format to a casual dining experience. It features a wait staff, TVs for watching the weekend games, beer and wine, and sports memorabilia to add some flair to the new restaurants.

Wing Zone has other plans in the works too. They say that innovation spurs economic recovery and we are proving that to be true by offering new and improved options to our franchisees.