Sam Stanovich was working in Illinois when he got a call from one of his good friends, the new CEO at Big Chicken, asking him to join the team. Sam has a long history in the hospitality industry and knew he would only join if he believed in the vision and prospect of the company. He wasted no time and started in his new role in franchise leadership for Big Chicken.
Sam has developed a knack for mentoring franchisees, which stems from his experience as a franchisee himself with Firehouse Subs. He understands that franchising is at its most successful when it combines the integration of the brand promise with the local influence of the franchisee.
Founded in 2018, Big Chicken was started by Hall of Fame basketball star Shaquille O’Neal and backed by JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group. The idea for Big Chicken stemmed from Shaq’s home-cooked childhood favorites with a modern twist. Favorites of the menu are Cheez-it crusted mac n’ cheese and crispy chicken sandwiches. Big Chicken currently has three franchise locations with plans to open several more locations in the very near future.
At IFA’s Open For Opportunity Roadshow in Las Vegas, Sam led a site visit at one of their Big Chicken locations. When discussing the importance of franchising, Sam said that franchisors can’t survive without their franchisees. It’s the franchisor’s job to prioritize innovation, communication, and trainings to lead their franchisee on the best path forward.
Sam’s experience not only includes owning and operating Firehouse Subs franchises, but he also served as an area representative for Firehouse Subs. Sam understands that franchising only works when both sides are successful.
With his decades of experience in hospitality and franchising, Sam and his team show how Big Chicken is Open for Opportunity.
