Industry Restaurant CEO Nader Masadeh (Mar 2014–) Founded 1984 Number of employees 300 | Genre Casual dining Founder Philip Schram Number of locations 51 Type of business Privately held | |
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Founders Haytham David, Nader Masadeh, Philip Schram Key people Nader Masadeh (President and CEO) Products Buffalo Wings, Sandwiches, Gyros, Chicken fingers, Salads, Quesadillas Website www.buffalowingsandrings.com Profiles | ||
Buffalo Wings & Rings is a Cincinnati-based sports restaurant franchise that offers an alternative concept to traditional sports bars. It offers club-level sports environment with a menu of Chicken wings, Burgers, Gyros, specialty salads and sandwiches. Since 1984, the restaurant has been known for its menu of homemade sauces and fresh wings with a community-focused model.
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History
Founded in Cincinnati in 1984, Buffalo Wings & Rings was purchased in 2005 by a management team led by Philip Schram, Nader Masadeh and Haytham David, each of whom took a senior management role with the company. They turned the franchise around by establishing a uniform management system designed to deliver strong unit-level economic potential.
By 2008, Restaurant Business magazine had named the company number one on its Future 50 list of growing chains, citing its franchising opportunities in the U.S.
In 2011, Buffalo Wings & Rings introduced a new flagship restaurant design with the opening of the franchise location just west of Chicago in Naperville, Ill.. The goal of the redesign was to create a more family-friendly atmosphere, while continuing to meet the needs of die-hard sports fans.
The company released an updated menu in 2012 that improved the quality of their hamburgers and added several salads, wraps and lighter fare to the restaurant's core chicken wing and sandwich offerings.
By 2013, the hybrid model of casual dining with fast service was recognized as a key component of the company's growth.
The shift from a masculine 'man cave' interior, with a predominantly fried food menu, to a bright colorful interior, with a chef-prepared menu of fresh salads and never-frozen meats, served on upscale dinnerware, has been applauded as a progressive franchise strategy by Entrepreneur and Restaurant Development + Design.
Buffalo Wings & Rings continues to open new restaurants with their new design, nicknamed Generation 3, and are working to convert the entire chain to this design. The brand opened a corporate-owned location inside Paul Brown Stadium in time for the Cincinnati Bengals 2015 football season.
Company leadership
Nader Masadeh has served as the Chief Executive Officer since 2014, while Philip Schram serves as Chief Development Officer, and Haytham David as the Chief Executive Officer of International. Masadeh gained early experience in the restaurant industry working in his family's Burger King franchise. This experience has led him to emphasize training that enables in-house advancement of employees.
Masadeh was featured in the season premiere of Undercover Boss' 7th season, which aired on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, December 20, 2015. For a couple of weeks, CEO Nader Masadeh worked undercover alongside employees doing everything from washing dishes in a Cincinnati location to serving tables in Chicago and prepping meals in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Haytham David has been in charge of expanding the brand's presence throughout the Middle East and other international locations.
Growth
As of 2016, Buffalo Wings & Rings has 67 units open across the globe. In the US, restaurants may be found in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. The brand has targeted additional states across the US, such as Texas, Florida, and Indiana. It is also planning expansion within major markets such as Columbus and Tampa Bay.
Buffalo Wings & Rings has also established a presence in the Middle East, with multiple established locations in Jordan, UAE and Iraq and planned locations in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The company is also focusing on growth throughout Europe, opening locations in London and Poland.
Menu
Buffalo Wings & Rings Chef Elliot Jablonsky continues to develop menu items which recognize the sports dynamic with unexpected twists. Jablonsky focuses on enhancing the flavor and variety of the brand's famous chicken wings.
Buffalo Wings & Rings has been recognized by Restaurant Hospitality for its successful use of limited time offers (LTOs) to improve its menu. The menu regularly features seasonal themes, and healthy menu items.