Sponsored By

Wingstop teases Paris debut with Olympics pop-upWingstop teases Paris debut with Olympics pop-up

‘House of Flavor’ activation features tossed wings as well as basketball, art and culture

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

August 2, 2024

8 Slides
Wingstop Paris # 41

Already have an account?

Wingstop Inc., the chicken wing chain, is teasing its upcoming entry into France with a Paris Olympics pop-up restaurant and activation, which features basketball as well as the arts.

Dallas-based Wingstop is offering samples of food through Aug. 10 as well as providing a venue for basketball showdowns, breakdance performances, dance battles and streaming of sporting events. The first Paris Wingstop is expected to open later this year.

The “House of Flavor” venue at 12 Rue Philippe de Girard is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors, the company said.

As well as sports, it features music, fashion, and art.

The pop-up is tailored to introduce customers to the brand, which already has enjoyed success in the United Kingdom.

Michael Skipworth, Wingstop CEO and president, said in a second-quaarter earnings call this week: “We know the playbook. We feel like it's proven, and so it's about just finding the right partner and scaling this thing.”

Wingstop reported same-store sales in the second quarter were up 28.7%.

For the second quarter ended June 29, Wingstop’s net income was $27.5 million, or 93 cents a share, compared to $16.2 million, or 54 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Revenue was $155.7 million compared to $107.2 million in the prior-year period.

Wingstop, founded in 1994, had 2,352 locations open worldwide as of June 29.

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

 

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.