Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken Announces Record Growth and Expansion Strategy at Annual Conference

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken gathered more than 280 franchise owners, corporate leaders and business partners at the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles, Missouri, for its annual Lee's Family Reunion conference, where the company revealed substantial growth metrics and ambitious expansion plans. CEO Ryan Weaver opened the event by highlighting a system that continues to surge, with 2024 system sales reaching $235 million and 2025 tracking ahead of that milestone.

The brand now boasts an average unit volume of $1.85 million and is pushing toward a $2 million goal. More significantly, Lee's announced development goals to more than double the current unit count by 2030, while investing in rebranding initiatives that modernize existing restaurants. Conference attendees witnessed this success firsthand when visiting the recently remodeled St. Charles location, which has seen an 8% sales lift and 7% traffic growth since its renovation.

The reunion centered on connection, inspiration, and shared purpose beyond the financial metrics. Guest speakers Danny Klein, VP Editorial Director of QSR Magazine, and Scott Greenberg, author and management trainer, challenged attendees to think bigger, delivering powerful insights on leadership, industry trends, and how to thrive in a competitive business landscape. Their perspectives left franchisees energized to carry the momentum home to their own communities.

One of the reunion's most memorable moments was the gathering of Jack Omer and Katie Bennett, grandchildren of Lee's founders. Their presence brought nearly 60 years of Lee's history to life, serving as a powerful testament to the family spirit, tradition, and vision that continue to shape the brand's future direction and culture.

The event culminated in the Awards Dinner, where Lee's recognized outstanding operators who embody the brand's values of service, quality, and growth. Emmett and Jenny Gamache from St. Louis, Missouri received the Legacy Award for their decades of commitment to the Lee's brand and their local community. NLM Enterprises LLC earned Operator of the Year for demonstrating exceptional sales performance and operational excellence in the Detroit, Michigan market. Henry Loving of HTL Inc. received the Pacesetter Award for the unit with the highest sales across the entire system, with his Richmond, Virginia store topping more than $6 million in annual sales in 2024.

For more information about Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, visit https://www.leesfamousrecipe.com. Those interested in franchising opportunities can learn more at https://www.leesfamousrecipe.com/franchise.

The company's growth trajectory and expansion plans represent significant developments in the quick-service restaurant sector, particularly in the competitive fried chicken category where Lee's has been recognized for three consecutive years as a top 10 Fast Food Fried Chicken by USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Award. With more than 130 locations across 12 U.S. states and Canada, the brand's planned doubling of units by 2030 indicates strong confidence in both market demand and franchisee performance capabilities.