What does it take to turn a simple idea like Chicken Salad Chick into one of the fastest-growing restaurant franchise brands in America?

Growing a business from a handful of locations to hundreds of restaurants takes more than a great product. It requires the right culture, disciplined leadership, a scalable franchise model, and an unwavering commitment to the customer experience. In this episode, you'll hear how Scott Deviney transformed Chicken Salad Chick from a promising regional concept into a nationally recognized brand by focusing on servant leadership, operational simplicity, and building a franchise system that empowers entrepreneurs to succeed. Whether you're leading a growing company or considering franchise expansion, you'll walk away with practical lessons that apply far beyond the restaurant industry.

What You'll Gain From This Episode:

• Learn how Chicken Salad Chick built a scalable franchise system without losing its culture, hospitality, or commitment to quality.
• Discover why servant leadership, operational simplicity, and disciplined franchise selection have fueled the brand's remarkable growth.
• Understand how successful CEOs balance innovation, franchise relationships, and long-term strategic expansion while staying true to their core mission.

If you're interested in scaling a business, building a franchise brand, or leading a high-growth organization without sacrificing culture, this episode delivers practical insights from the CEO behind Chicken Salad Chick's remarkable success story.

Check out:

• 8:45 – Why Scott Deviney Chose Chicken Salad Chick
  Scott shares the pivotal moment he recognized that Chicken Salad Chick was unlike any other restaurant concept, citing its people-first culture, unique market position, and long-term growth potential.
• 28:40 – The Secret to Maintaining Culture Across Hundreds of Franchise Locations
  Learn how Scott and his leadership team preserve the Chicken Salad Chick guest experience by focusing on servant leadership, franchisee selection, operational simplicity, and a shared purpose.
• 47:20 – What's Next for Chicken Salad Chick?
  Scott discusses the company's ambitious expansion plans, the path toward 500 restaurants and $1 billion in systemwide sales, and why he believes the brand is still in the early stages of its growth.

Scott Deviney, CEO of Chicken Salad Chick, has grown his enterprise tenfold in 10 years — from 32 restaurants in six states when he started in May 2015 to 309 eateries in 22 states today. He plans to serve customers in 30 states by year-end 2026. "Chicken Salad Chick is all about people," says Deviney (AB '95). "It's about taking care of our restaurant and franchise teams, taking care of our guests. Making chicken salad fresh, every day, from scratch, is our way to love on people."

Deviney grew up in Carrollton, Georgia. He credits his parents with his work ethic. "They gave me something of tremendous value," he says, "my work ethic. I learned that when things have to be done, you go do them."

Deviney started his professional career at SunTrust Bank, where he spent 13 years, including time in a food and beverage group. In 2008, he left banking to buy 19 Wendy's fast-food restaurants. Six years later, he sold those, plus a few added along the way, then looked for new opportunities. He bought Chicken Salad Chick with a private equity partner. The business was hatched in Auburn, Alabama, in 2008 by Kevin Brown and his wife, Stacy, who named her various chicken salad blends (Fancy Nancy, Classic Carol, Kickin' Kay Lynne) after female family members and friends. Deviney moved headquarters to Atlanta and began spreading the chicken salad gospel.

Are you looking for a way to build additional income without walking away from your career or wondering if franchise ownership is the right path for your next chapter?

If you've thought about creating passive income, diversifying your investments, or transitioning out of corporate leadership, franchising can offer a compelling opportunity—but only if you choose the right business. In this episode, you'll learn how experienced franchise advisor Jeff Schaffertz helps executives identify franchise opportunities that align with their goals, lifestyle, leadership strengths, and financial expectations. You'll also discover why successful franchise ownership is about much more than picking a recognizable brand.

What You'll Gain From This Episode:

• Learn how to evaluate franchise opportunities based on your goals, available time, leadership style, and desired level of involvement.
• Discover which types of franchises are best suited for semi-passive ownership and building multiple income streams.
• Understand the due diligence process, including how to analyze Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), validate financial performance, and avoid costly franchise mistakes.

If you're exploring franchise ownership as a way to create long-term wealth, diversify your income, or transition into business ownership with greater confidence, this episode will give you a practical framework to make smarter decisions before you invest.

Check out:

• 10:10 – Can You Really Build Passive Income with a Franchise?
  Jeff explains what "manager-run" franchise ownership actually looks like, how much time it requires, and what executives should realistically expect.
• 20:45 – The Biggest Mistake People Make When Choosing a Franchise
  Learn why matching your skills, personality, and leadership style to the right franchise is far more important than choosing a well-known brand.
• 35:00 – How to Evaluate a Franchise Before You Invest
  Jeff walks through the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), explains which sections matter most, and shares how to validate financial performance before making a decision.

Jeff Shafritz

Jeff Shafritz is a Strategic Franchise Advisor and the founder of Franchise Guidance, helping executives and investors bring clarity and confidence to franchise decisions in an industry often clouded by hype. With over 30 years of experience in franchising, he has led franchise development for major brands, successfully owned and sold his own top-performing fitness franchise, and guided hundreds of individuals through critical financial and lifestyle decisions

How do you know whether you've found a strong franchise or one that could quietly drain your time, money, and energy?

If you're looking for a way to diversify your income, leave the corporate world, or build a business worth, franchising can be an attractive option. But not all opportunities are created equal. In this episode, you'll learn how experienced franchise operators evaluate opportunities, identify red flags, and determine whether a franchise is truly positioned for long-term success. If you're considering franchise ownership, understanding the characteristics of a strong franchise can help you make a smarter investment decision and avoid costly mistakes.

• Learn the key traits that separate a strong franchise from thousands of average franchise opportunities.
• Discover how to evaluate franchise financial performance, leadership teams, systems, and support before investing.
• Understand the different paths to franchise ownership, including buying an existing operation versus building one from the ground up.

Before you commit your capital to any franchise opportunity, listen to this episode to learn the proven framework successful investors use to identify a strong franchise with long-term growth potential.

Check out:

• 11:45 – Why Some Franchises Command Higher Exit Values
  Scott explains how a strong franchise can increase business value, attract private equity buyers, and create a more lucrative exit strategy.
• 21:30 – How to Evaluate a Strong Franchise Before You Invest
  Learn the critical factors to assess, including leadership, operational systems, franchisee support, and financial performance.
• 34:20 – The Success Rates of Strong Franchises
  Scott breaks down why franchise success rates vary so dramatically and how to use the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to identify a strong franchise with a proven track record.

Scott Jones

Scott Jones is a franchise consultant and founder of Franchise Guide Group. A multi-unit owner and former franchise brand CEO, he brings more than three decades of experience in the franchising industry. Through his work with FranChoice and his own companies, he helps mid-career professionals, executives, and business owners use franchising as a practical path to independence. Scott has led a company serving tens of thousands of franchise locations and has
worked closely with major brands while also sitting in the franchisee chair himself