Wing Zone featured in Colorado Springs Business Journal

Wing Zone was recently featured in the Colorado Springs Business Journal in an article titled, "Wing Zone to open restaurant on Fort Carson."  The article focused on the Wing Zone opening that happened on Monday, May 14th. Further, both Matt and Janice expanded on Wing Zone’s connection with the Army & Air Force Exchange Services. Matt talked about the partnership and how AAFES has helped plans to open up 15 more restaurants on military installations by the end of the year. Click here for the entire article or see below.

Wing Zone to open restaurant on Fort Carson
By: Monica Mendoza

Wing Zone restaurant will open Monday in Fort Carson’s mini-mall.

The sit-down restaurant offers 17 buffalo chicken wing flavors and will serve draft beer.

Wing Zone CEO and founder Matt Friedman has partnered with the Army & Air Force Exchange Services to open Wing Zone restaurants on four military bases. The company has plans to open 15 more restaurants on military installations by the end of the year, Friedman said.

Landing a partnership with AAFES is big, he said. AAFES operates restaurants and commissary services for all branches of the military in the U.S. and in 30 countries worldwide.


“They’ve said to me, they have big plans for us, domestically and internationally,” Friedman said. “Why Wing Zone fits with AAFES is that we can get into a small footprint, which is important to them.”

In this case, AAFES is the franchise owner. Fort Carson Wing Zone store manager Janice Loundagin said this restaurant is unique among the others offered on base because it has its own sit-down area, instead of the more typical cafeteria, food-court style.

(Read More)

Wing Zone Opens in Fort Riley, KS

Wing Zone Fort Riley, KS had a soft opening this week! Please enjoy pictures from the opening below.

We are very excited to be at Fort Riley and look forward to the many years to come. 

Wing Zone featured on FastCasual.com

Wing Zone was recently featured on FastCasual.com in an article titled, "Wing Zone opens at Ft. Hood." The article features Wing Zone CEO Matt Friedman and Army and Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) executive Michael Dillon discussing Wing Zone’s recent AAFES opening at Fort Hood. The article also discusses the brand’s flavor launch and overhaul of its chicken wing sauces in which Wing Zone Facebook fans were asked to rename its sauces such as mild, medium and hot, with the fan voting. Finally, the article mentions that Wing Zone redesigned its brand to incorporate flavor into each component, including the logo, menu, marketing items and in-store design. Click here to read the full article. 


Wing Zone Opens at Ft. Hood


Chicken wing chain Wing Zone has opened its second military base location at Ft. Hood in Texas, marking the second of 15 locations to open on military bases across the U.S. The first location opened at Ft. Lewis in Seattle.

“We have had a big 2011 and our first double-digit franchisee’s opening marks the proven beginning to our focused multi-unit/multi-brand growth initiative,” said Matt Friedman, CEO/founder of Wing Zone. “To have an established franchisee like AAFES join our system is further proof that the advancements that we made internally are executable externally.”

(Read More)

Elite Development: Wing Zone Signs 10-Unit Deal with Army & Air Force Exchange Service

Delivery/Take-Out Chicken Wing Franchise Positioned as First Wing Concept to Deliver on Base

Turning its head to the down economy, Wing Zone, a 100-unit chicken wing delivery/take-out specialist and the nation’s authority of flavor and ambassadors of sauce, has signed a 10-unit deal with Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). With the signing, Wing Zone joins AAFES impressive portfolio that includes 2,311 restaurants, including Burger King, Taco Bell, Cinnabon and Popeye’s.

“We have had a big 2009 and our first double-digit franchisee signing marks the proven beginning to our focused multi-unit/multi-brand growth initiative,” said Matt Friedman, CEO/Founder of Wing Zone. “To have an established franchisee like AAFES join our system is further proof that the advancements that we made internally are executable externally.”

Throughout 2008 and early 2009, Wing Zone worked on positioning its systems, operations, and model as a viable concept for prospective franchisees with high-profile resumes. 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 Wing Zone’s improvements were impressive, and viable for them to become its first franchisee to sign a double-digit deal.

In preparation for expanding into unconventional locations/systems, Wing Zone tested an improved model over the last year, designed to be more universal while strengthening its delivery systems. The signing of AAFES provides Wing Zone with the opportunity to rollout a smaller footprint as well as be the first chicken wing concept to deliver on base.

“We have mastered delivery through our more than 100 units and our almost 20-year experience as a company,” Friedman said. “We are confident delivering our wings on base that active military and their families will get the freshest and highest quality wings fast.”

The first of 10 AAFES units is scheduled to open in second quarter of 2010.

“This is our first step into unconventional sites, yet proof that our model is compatible with different types of locations,” Friedman said.

Wing Zone was recently featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle

Wing Zone taking flight overseas

Friday, February 26, 2010

Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Lisa R. Schoolcraft Staff Writer

Matt Friedman is the first to admit he’s a wing man.

Friedman co-founded Atlanta-based Wing Zone, a chicken wing fast-casual restaurant, while in college when he couldn’t find decent chicken wings.

Now he plans to spread his Wing Zones internationally, starting with 50 units in Japan, five in Panama and six in the Bahamas.

He’s also just struck a deal with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to put Wing Zone on up to 160 domestic military bases and 60 international U.S. bases. (Read More)