Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants Continues to Expand Nationally Despite Economic Downturn

By: Dickey's Barbecue Pit® | 4 Shares 182 Reads

DALLAS, Aug. 12 // PRNewswire // -- Dallas-based Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants announced today that in spite of a slow economy the company will continue to expand through the end of 2008 with plans to open an additional 24 stores before the end of the year, bringing the total number of restaurants to 115 in 20 states. 95 percent of them will be franchise locations. In 2009, Dickey's plans to open 85 restaurants, triple the number opened in 2007.

According to Dickey's President Roland Dickey, Jr., within a few years the company plans to reach 100 annual openings.

"We set an aggressive goal for the company and we're on target to meet it," said Roland. "We know we want to be the largest barbecue chain in the U.S. To that end, over the past four years, we've revamped our business model and franchising opportunities and introduced a new restaurant concept. So far, it's proving to be successful as we've seen exponential growth in a relatively short period of time."

In April of 2007, Dickey's introduced a fast casual concept designed to take barbecue mainstream. The company will scale down its restaurants from 4,500 square-feet stand-alone locations to a 1,500 square-foot, renovated space with a family-focused, serve-to-your-table feel. Deep, high-backed booths and corrugated steel light fixtures coupled with bright woods and vivid displays make Dickey's new look comfortable and approachable.

Since 1941, Dickey's has been a leader in optimizing the barbecue model. When Roland was named president of the company in 2004, he realized there was an immediate need to build a comprehensive infrastructure for aggressive growth. The company saw significant results as Dickey's has almost doubled its numbers in four years. In 2008, Dickey's has over 170 locations open and in development.

For information on franchise opportunities with Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, please contact Joe Amodio at 866.923.6322 or jamodio@dickeys.com.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants

Founded in 1941, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants began in Dallas with a single goal -- "Serve the best tastin' barbecue imaginable, just the way people like it. And don't make 'em wait too long to get it." More than 60 years later, Dickey's is now the fastest growing barbecue chain in the country and is rapidly becoming the largest franchising concept in its category serving some of the best mouth waterin', lip smackin', great tastin' barbecue in the United States. Beginning with an aggressive growth strategy and proven business model, and since implementing its proprietary five revenue streams for business growth, Dickey's is on track to double its locations in 2008. Currently, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants can be found in 17 states with 91 locations nationwide. For more information on partnering with Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants in any location, call 866.923.6322 or visit http://www.dickeys.com/franchise.aspx. Dickey's: Slow cooked. Served fast.

SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants

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