There’s no denying that chicken is hot right now. From Popeyes and Chick-fil-A crowing over chicken-sandwich superiority to Wingstop dominating during the pandemic and Nashville hot chicken brands like Dave’s and Hattie B’s emerging as formidable players, the industry is flying high even as many restaurants struggle to recover from the COVID crisis.
That’s especially true of chicken-finger brands, as the likes of Raising Cane’s, Zaxby’s, and Slim Chickens are all enjoying big success in 2020. And now another chicken-finger concept—in fact, the originator of the space—is ready to ride those tail feathers to its own glory.
Guthrie’s, a 65-year-old concept out of Auburn, Alabama, may not have the name recognition of those other chicken franchises, but its decision in 1982 to scrap burgers from its menu gave it the distinction of becoming the world’s first chicken-finger-only restaurant. And now CEO Joe Kelly Guthrie, son of Guthrie’s founder, is determined to reclaim the credit as being the OG in the space while also tapping into the chicken craze for growth.
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