Few restaurant chains have had the ups and downs of Milford-based Buffalo Wings & Rings, founded in 1988 but brought under new ownership led by president Phil Schram last year.
The company had as many as 25 franchises in 1998. That number dipped to six in 2005 when the company changed hands. But with one or two new franchises coming on line each month, Schram projects more than 40 by the end of 2007.
“Our company is all about supporting the franchisees,” said Schram, a 42-year-old Mariemont resident, who is also chief executive. “We are a family-dining concept, but the training and operations are directed at helping the franchises.”
Schram thinks that it’s critical that franchisees receive the attention they deserve to ensure the success of each restaurant in the chain, which has a track record of bringing customers back again and again.
Schram, a former logistics and purchasing manager at the ZF-Ford transmission plant near Batavia, proudly points out that six of 10 customers eat at their favorite Buffalo Wings & Rings at least once a month.
In addition, one in 12, the most loyal, eat at a Buffalo Wings & Rings restaurant every day.
Those numbers come as no surprise to restaurant industry watchers who have seen sales of chicken wings take flight at many quick-serve restaurants in the past several years.
As part of the National Restaurant Association’s 2005 Quickservice Restaurant Survey, quick-service operators were asked to judge whether 17 items were gaining or losing popularity.
Chicken wings received more positive responses than any other item. When asked whether they thought chicken wings were gaining in popularity at quick-service restaurants, 52 percent said that they somewhat agreed, and 18 percent said they completely agreed.
“We’re seeing chicken wings continue to grow,” said Harry Balzer, vice president of the NPD Group.
Buffalo Wings & Rings owner-operators pay $25,000 in an upfront franchise fee with another capital commitment needed of up to $450,000 to build one of the 160-seat restaurants.
The company has commitments or actual stores at 35 locations in 10 states and Kuwait. Schram expects systemwide revenues to approach $40 million by the end of 2007.
Most restaurants are in Ohio, though Kentucky will be a focus for growth in 2007, as well as California.
Restaurateur Tim Tefs is committed to building 40 in Kentucky within the decade.
The Yankee Road Wings & Rings restaurant opened in Liberty Township with a V.I.P. party Monday
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