Wing Zone featured in News & Record

Wing Zone was recently featured in an article in the News-Record titled “Wing Zone opening more North Carolina locations,” which was published online on Sept. 30. The article, written by Carl Wilson, provides details of Wing Zone’s plans to increase the number of restaurants in the Greensboro area and includes quotes from Wing Zone CEO Matt Friedman. A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Wing Zone opening more North Carolina locations
By Carl Wilson

When University of Florida students Matt Friedman and Adam Scott started selling Buffalo wings out of their fraternity house kitchen in 1991, they probably never dreamed feeding hungry students would become a business of 100 franchises in 25 states.

Friedman, CEO of Wing Zone, unveiled plans for expansion in North Carolina, including Greensboro.

Friedman says there are some “preliminary and solid opportunities” in North Carolina. Seven to nine new locations are possible in the next 18 to 24 months, including a Greensboro location next year.

“We’ve had some growth there and decided to get back there,” Friedman says.

Wing Zone franchises have opened in several major North Carolina markets including Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Raleigh. A location opened at 2528 S. Church St. in Burlington in August.

(Read More)

Flavorholics Celebrate: Wing Zone Launches Next Flavor Revolution with Flavor Rubs

Wing Zone, one of the nation’s fastest growing chicken wing takeout/delivery chains, is heating up its flavor profile with three new Flavor Rubs. The new flavor rubs are now available to consumers in 10 test markets across the nation.

In addition to Wing Zone’s 15 award-winning flavor choices, consumers are now able to expand their taste buds with new Flavor Rub flavors including Blackend Voodoo, Cool Ranch and Sea Salt and Vinegar. Unlike the traditional buffalo wing sauces, Wing Zone’s Flavor Rubs are composed entirely of dry spices, offering Wing Zone consumers an explosion of flavor with less mess. The Flavor Rubs can also be added to other Wing Zone menu items including hamburgers, sandwiches and chicken fingers.

“Call it our taste and hunger stimulus package,” said Matt Licht, owner of the East Meadows, NY Flavor Rub test location. “We are pulling out the red carpet for wing eaters all over the nation. I can promise you that once you taste our product, you will be a customer for life.”

Wing Zone has become famous over recent years by not only topping the 100-unit mark and releasing its cluster growth strategy in which multiple Wing Zone locations will open in surrounding communities, but also being featured on the Food Channel, TODAY Show, ESPN and in USA Today, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal for its founder’s story and flavor bursting sauces.

Founders Matt Friedman and Adam Scott created the chain that dares you to not crave more of its tasty wings in 1991 at their University of Florida fraternity kitchen, where they cooked up wings and homemade flavors to deliver the award winning Buffalo chicken wings all over the campus. Soon thereafter, the founders began expanding their concept, later settling on Atlanta to headquarter their franchising efforts.

To support Wing Zone’s progressive saucing style, Wing Zone Flavorholics who try the flavors are encouraged to tell the Wing Zone-nation all about it via its Social Media outlets. Friedman said the chain will interact residents in their personal space, daily, via these outlets.

"We encourage our friends to follow us, Tweet us, friend us and interact with us via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube," Friedman said. "We are looking forward to connecting with Wing Zone Flavorholics to find out just how delicious they think our Flavor Rubs are."

Franchisee Profile: Deb & Jeremy Serls of Savannah, GA

Deb and Jeremy Serls have a passion for wings. As self-proclaimed “wing freaks,” Deb and Jeremy have tried every wing they can get their hands on and have never had one compare to the delicious flavor of Wing Zone. After Jeremy was laid-off from his position with the Hershey Company, the couple knew it was the perfect opportunity to move closer to family and open the business that had always wanted – a Wing Zone.

What was your career before Wing Zone?
My husband Jeremy and I met in Australia. I’m from New Zealand and he is originally from Pennsylvania. He was there studying abroad and I was working within the hospitality industry. We fell in love and decided to be together so I moved to the United States. Once I arrived Jeremy began working for The Hershey Company. The job moved us around a bit and we were able to move to Savannah. After a year in Savannah Jeremy got a promotion and we moved to Phoenix. We lived in Phoenix for over two years until Jeremy was laid-off by Hershey which gave us the opportunity to move back to savannah and be closer to family and it was the perfect place to open a Wing Zone.
How did you learn about Wing Zone?
Jeremy’s father owned a business in West Palm Beach, FL that was right next to a Wing Zone. Jeremy and I are wing freaks. We absolutely love them and had never had such a great wing with the variety of flavors that Wing Zone offered.

What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?
We didn’t have any idea what we were doing in terms of opening a wing restaurant. Franchising with Wing Zone gave us the opportunity to own a business in an industry where we didn’t have much experience. We didn’t want to spend all of our finances on the trial and error associated with owning a business for the first time. Franchising is great because it’s a recipe and if you follow it closely it will equal success.
What will make your Wing Zone different?
Jeremy and I have tried a lot of the wings in the Savannah area but none compare to Wing Zone. We will be offering a drive-thru as well which is a great convenience to customers. We are owner-operators, so there is that extra care behind our product. Jeremy will be hands on in the store and I’ll be hitting the pavement making sure everyone in Savannah knows that Wing Zone is here!

Wing Zone featured in Cumming Patch

Wing Zone was featured in a the Cumming Patch in an article titled "Wing Zone: Thank You. Drive Thru." Cumming Patch reporter January Mills spoke with franchisee Jeff Reddick about the new Wing Zone location in Cumming, GA. The article talks about this location being the very first to feature a drive thru for Wing Zone and the industry as a whole. Reddick says, “It’s an honor; it’s exciting and we know Cumming consumers are going to go crazy over this very first drive-thru wing concept.” That’s not it though, Reddick points out the location also delivers. Check out the article here.

Wing Zone: Thank You. Drive Thru.
How do you like your wings? Delivery, carry out or drive thru?
By January Mills

Wing Zone celebrated the grand opening of its Cumming location on July 16. Franchise owners Michael Hornsteiner, Jeff Reddick, Kevin Aycock and Sonny Hires jumped on the opportunity to open Wing Zone's very first drive-thru location. Reddick says, “It’s an honor; it’s exciting and we know Cumming consumers are going to go crazy over this very first drive-thru wing concept."

(Read More)

Wing Zone featured in QSR Magazine

Wing Zone was recently featured in an article in QSR called “Ones to Watch: Wing Zone” which was built from a interview with Matt Friedman, CEO and Founder of Wing Zone. The article discusses the brand’s journey from its inception in 1991 to the 83-unit franchise it is today. The article discusses the extensive flavor profile that Wing Zone offers to its adventurous consumers, including the new flavor rubs. The article also highlights the other food options that Wing Zone has added to its menu which include fries, cheese sticks and fried mushrooms. The article also discusses the different restaurant concepts that Wing Zone continues to add to its footprint, like the newest freestanding drive-thru. Click here to read more.

One to Watch: Wing Zone
From frat house to budding franchise, find out how Wing Zone grew into a $40 million company.

The idea for Wing Zone was hatched in a fraternity house in 1991, but the first store didn’t open until two years later. Take-out and delivery wings were the brainstorm of fraternity brothers Matt Friedman and Adam Scott, who, while studying at the University of Florida, wanted to feed themselves and fellow Gators something besides the delivery mainstays of pizza and subs.

“Wings were something you couldn’t get delivered then,” Friedman says. “So we wrote a business plan focused on takeout and delivery. We did the testing out of our fraternity house kitchen, and then in my senior year of college we opened our first restaurant.”

(Read more)

Wing Zone featured on AccessNorthGA.com

Wing Zone was recently featured in an article titled “Wing Zone unveiling country’s 1st 'wing’ restaurant offering drive-thru service” which published on AccessNorthGA.com. The article was built from interviews with Jeff Reddick, Michael Hornsteiner, and Matt Friedman. The article focuses on Wing Zone being the first 'wing' restaurant to offer a drive-thru service. Click here to view the full article!

Wing Zone unveiling country's 1st 'wing' restaurant offering drive-thru service
By Staff

CUMMING — Michael Hornsteiner, Jeff Reddick, Kevin Aycock and Sonny Hires will soon be making history for Wing Zone, a chicken wing franchise based in Atlanta. Hornsteiner, Reddick, Aycock and Hires will become the franchise owners of Wing Zone’s first drive-thru location.

“This is our chance to be trailblazers as franchisees,” said Reddick. “It’s an honor; it’s exciting and we know Cumming consumers are going to go crazy over this very first drive-thru wing concept. On July 16, we’re celebrating with a bang and Wing Zone Flavorholics are going to get a first glimpse into a brand new way to order wings.”

(Read More)

Wing Zone featured in Nation's Restaurant News

Recently Nation’s Restaurant News reporter, Alan Snel, spoke with CEO of Wing Zone, Matt Friedman, about trailblazing the industry and opening the very first drive-thru in the chicken wing takeout/delivery segment. The drive thru will not only provide added benefits to the consumer looking to get wings cooked-to-order quickly, but also franchisees who have another opportunity to generate revenue. The first ever Wing Zone with a drive thru opened in Cumming, GA on July 8. Two others are in the works to open this summer and fall. Click here to view the full article!

Wing Zone debuts drive-thru windows
By Alan Snel

Officials of Wing Zone, the chicken-wing chain based in Atlanta, are hoping that the addition of drive-thru windows to the brand’s restaurants will help sales soar.

Wing Zone opened the chain’s first drive-thru facility July 8 at an outlet in Cumming, Ga. — the first chicken-wing restaurant in the country to offer such an amenity, executives claim.

(Read More)