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Dave’s Hot Chicken taps musician Usher as franchiseeDave’s Hot Chicken taps musician Usher as franchisee

Grammy Award winner partners with Atlanta group and joins investor Drake

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

March 27, 2024

1 Min Read
usher invests Dave's Hot Chicken Atlanta
Dave’s Hot Chicken has tapped musician Usher for its Atlanta franchise group.Unique Nicole / Stringer / WireImage

Dave’s Hot Chicken has embraced singer-songwriter Usher in its set list, adding him to the nine-unit Atlanta franchise group, the company said this week.

The Los Angeles-based Nashville-style hot chicken brand said the Grammy Award-wining Usher is investing in a partnership with existing franchisees Lawrence Kourie and Andrew Feghali, whose company is the longest-tenured Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise group.

Usher had earlier shared his Dave’s Hot Chicken experience on Instagram.

An existing investor in the Dave’s Hot Chicken is musician Drake, who has been named Billboard’s Artist of the Decade.

“Dave’s Hot Chicken is some of the best hot chicken I’ve ever had,” Usher said in a statement. “I’m excited to be involved with the brand and bring Dave’s delicious tenders and sliders to people across Atlanta.”

Dave’s Hot Chicken specializes in hot chicken sliders and tenders and sides. The chicken is offered at seven spice levels.

The brand recently added “Dave’s NOT Chicken” to the menu with crispy cauliflower sliders and cauliflower bites.

Dave’s Hot Chicken, founded in a West Hollywood parking lot in 2017, has 200 restaurants.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on X/Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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