Slim Chickens is entering a new phase of growth, and newly appointed president and COO Christina Vaughan is working to ensure the brand scales with discipline. The fast casual entered 2026 with more than 300 units worldwide and over 1,000 in development. Target markets include Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, and California, along with international regions across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. “I would tell you, really, it’s probably more of an evolution,” Vaughan says, describing the brand’s current trajectory. “We’re very high growth, but we’ve really reached a stage where, for example, scaling successfully is going to require more of a focus on the operational discipline and our franchise performance.” That thinking is shaping the company’s next chapter. While development remains a priority, leadership is clear that expansion must be supported by strong execution at the restaurant level. At the core of the strategy is a simple idea. Growth only works if restaurants perform. The company is working to drive consistency across the system, with added attention on training, benchmarking, and clearly defined brand standards. Leadership says Slim Chickens is making sure operators understand expectations around labor, food costs, and day-to-day execution. “We’re using data and benchmarking to really ensure that we are intentional and we understand who we’re growing with,” she says. That includes prioritizing experienced operators and reinforcing the importance of store-level profitability. Rather than chasing unit count alone, the brand is monitoring new restaurants and positioning them for long-term success.…
