Wings Etc. Grill & Pub Moves Up NRN’s Top 500 Report With Double-Digit Sales Growth

Wings Etc. Grill & Pub moved up the Nation’s Restaurant News Top 500 Report by 11 spots over last year with an increase in annual sales, units, and AUV

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (July 11, 2022)—Nation’s Restaurant News recently released metrics for its Top 500 Report, and Wings Etc. Grill & Pub has once again made the list, showing an impressive 17% increase in sales over the past year. The increase moves them up the list 11 spots from the NRN 2021 Top 500 Report to Number 261 on this year’s list.

In its report, Nation’s Restaurant News noted that chicken wing sales remained solid but cooled off in 2021. While many leading chicken wing brands saw more modest increases compared to the year prior, Wings Etc. saw a substantial rise in sales, with a year-over-year change of 3.4% in the 2021 report to a notable increase of 17% in this year’s report. In fact, Wings Etc. placed 107 out of 500 restaurants for top sales growth rankings across all chains reported in the Top 500.

“Chicken wings remain a fan favorite across the nation,” said Wings Etc. CEO Rob Hensmann. “Many have found convenience in delivery services and carry-out options, and chicken wings have proven to be an item that guests love on the go. While we can thank our strong carry-out presence for some of the growth, our promise of ‘Good Food. Great Times’ really keeps guests coming back for more.”

Nation’s Restaurant News, an American trade publication that reports on the foodservice industry, releases its Top 500 Report annually. NRN utilizes data from Firefly to determine the 500 largest chains in the United States and ranks them according to unit counts, annual sales, average unit volume (AUV), and year-over-year percent change for each metric.

Wings Etc., which has 79 units across 11 states, saw an average unit volume increase of 3.2%, a unit increase of 13.3%, and a sales increase of 17% from 2021.

“Our concept proved to be strong throughout the pandemic and the aftermath,” said Hensmann. “We continue to look forward to the future and plan to continue our upward momentum into 2023.”

About the Wings Etc. Grill & Pub Franchise Opportunity

Founded in 1994 by Jim Weaver in the South Bend, Indiana, area, Wings Etc. is a family-friendly grill and pub with a diverse menu featuring award-winning jumbo Buffalo wings, over 20 signature sauces and rubs, premium burgers, wraps, salads, appetizers, sandwiches, subs, kids meals, over 40 domestic and craft beer selections in bottles and on tap, dozens of large HDTVs tuned to sports programming, and a casual, non-corporate-y, laid-back “vibe” that makes people want to just come in and hang out. In addition to its popular sports programming, menu, and beverage options, Wings Etc. offers weekday lunch and food specials, online ordering, and much more.

Franchising since 2004, Wings Etc. Grill & Pub has been named one of Restaurant Business Magazine’s “Future Franchises,” has been named one of Franchise Gator’s “Top 100 Franchises” for several years, and was named a 2020 “Culture 100 Best of the Best” franchise by Franchise Business Review. In June 2021, Wings Etc. was named a “Top 200 Food Franchise” and a “Top 500 North American Franchise” by Entrepreneur Magazine. Wings Etc. continues to grow and succeed by partnering with franchise operators who share the Wings Etc. Vision, Mission, and Values, a commitment to building a successful business while helping build stronger communities and people (and to having fun!).

Wings Etc. offers single and multi-unit franchise options. The initial franchise fee is $39,500, with a $200,000 liquid cash investment, and $500,000 minimum net worth requirement for interested prospects. Wings Etc. offers one of the lowest startup costs and break-even franchise opportunities in the full-service restaurant segment. Priority growth markets include Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Alabama and Florida.

For more information about the Wings Etc. franchise opportunity, visit  www.wingsetcfranchise.com.

©2022 Wings Etc., Inc. Franchises independently owned and operated.