Brandon Rhoten Joins Dave's Hot Chicken as New CMO to Enhance Growth and Branding Strategy

Dave's Hot Chicken Welcomes Brand New CMO Brandon Rhoten

In a significant move to bolster its marketing efforts, Dave's Hot Chicken has appointed Brandon Rhoten as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Known for being the fastest-growing Nashville-style hot chicken brand hailing from Los Angeles, the company is gearing up for an exciting new chapter. Rhoten brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise, having worked to elevate various high-growth brands throughout his career.

Rhoten was first introduced to the chicken sensation during his tenure at GroundTruth, where he served as CMO. His leadership there enabled him to assist numerous restaurants in increasing their foot traffic via targeted media campaigns. His prior experience also includes a successful stint at Potbelly, where he played a pivotal role in revamping the brand's positioning and modernizing its digital presence, ultimately reversing a trend of declining customer visits.

The trajectory of Rhoten's career began in the creative strategy realm at Wendy's, where he not only cultivated the brand's digital marketing landscape but also led marketing strategies during a time of considerable growth. Rhoten expressed his enthusiasm about joining Dave's Hot Chicken, stating, "From the moment I started working with the Dave's team, I knew the brand was something special. It's a bold, social-led brand with great food and strong operational practices. I aim to amplify that spirit on larger platforms while honoring what attracted customers to Dave's in the first place."

As CMO, Rhoten's priorities will focus on enhancing brand marketing strategies, crafting creative plans, and ensuring robust digital and social media engagement. Aiming for accelerated growth and a solidified brand reputation, he is tasked with identifying effective traffic drivers and establishing programs geared towards testing and learning to broaden the brand's reach and maintain its cultural relevance.

Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave's Hot Chicken, has highlighted Rhoten's addition to the team as a game-changer. Phelps remarks on the team’s commitment, stating, "With our strong franchisee network and support staff, Brandon's expertise in developing culturally relevant brands is crucial as we expand rapidly in the U.S. and globally."

Dave's Hot Chicken has quickly become a favorite across the nation, renowned for its delectable range of Nashville-style hot chicken tenders, sliders, and bites. The menu caters to a variety of spice preferences, ranging from mild (No Spice) to the extremely fiery (Reaper). Complementing the chicken are sides like house-made Kale Slaw, creamy Mac Cheese, and crispy Fries.

Founded in 2017 by Arman Oganesyan, culinary expert Dave Kopushyan, Tommy, and Gary Rubenyan, the first-ever Dave's Hot Chicken started as a parking lot pop-up shop where customers lined up for hours. The venture received rapid acclaim, leading to a brick-and-mortar establishment in East Hollywood. In 2019, the vision to franchise Dave's Hot Chicken took shape when the team partnered with Bill Phelps and John Davis to expand the business model nationally and internationally. Currently, over 1,020 franchises have been sold in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Canada, with more than 70 new locations poised to open this year.

The brand stands out not only for its delicious offerings but for its ambition to create a memorable customer experience, encapsulated in their mission to "blow their minds." Well-known celebrities have shown support for the brand, including music icons Drake and Usher, and notable public figures like retired NFL player Michael Strahan and actress Maria Shriver.

To discover more about Dave's Hot Chicken and available franchise opportunities, visit www.daveshotchicken.com/franchising.