Growth Chains: Dickey’s Barbecue PitGrowth Chains: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

By Ron Ruggless

HEADQUARTERS: Dallas

MARKET SEGMENT: 
fast-casual barbecue

NO. OF UNITS: 218

SYSTEMWIDE SALES: 
more than $200 million 
(projected 2012)

AVERAGE CHECK: $9.75

LEADERSHIP: Roland Dickey Sr., chairman; Roland Dickey Jr., chief executive

YEAR FOUNDED: 1941

COMPETITION: fast-casual restaurants

TARGET MARKETS: 
48 contiguous U.S. states


WEBSITE: www.dickeys.com

Until recently, barbecue chains have faced the stiff headwinds of regional preferences in their efforts to expand into a nationwide brand. But Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is one concept with growth that is smoking.


Dickey’s is no spring chicken. It was founded in 1941 in Dallas, although the concept didn’t start franchising until 1995. Since then, growth had been stead...