Chicken Salad Chick Tops Emerging Brands | Lexington News

Lexington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 28, 2026 · 2m

Chicken Salad Chick just smashed it—crowned the top emerging dining brand in America, beating giants like Cook Out and Just Salad. Atlanta’s favorite chicken salad spot is on fire, especially in Kentucky, where it’s exploded from its 2018 debut to over 30 locations across major cities, including a new drive-thru in Lexington. With 54% of fans calling it “On the Rise” and scoring high for innovation, this regional champ now boasts 340+ locations nationwide—and plans to hit 600+ with 270 more stores coming soon. Their franchise-driven growth proves that small, scrappy brands can outpace big…