The Loomis Agency
  • About
    • Approach
    • Culture
    • News
    • Podcast
    • Our Book
  • People
  • Work
  • Expertise
    • Restaurant
    • Retail
    • Franchise
    • Healthcare
  • Services
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Let’s Connect

16x Named Best Places to Work by Dallas Morning News and Dallas Business Journal – LEARN MORE

×
The Loomis Agency
The Loomis Agency
mobile menu
  • About
    • Approach
    • Culture
    • News
    • Podcast
    • Our Book
  • People
  • Work
  • Expertise
    • Restaurant
    • Retail
    • Franchise
    • Healthcare
  • Services
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Let’s Connect

Golden Chick - Brand Story - Case Study

authentic reactions
amazing growth

Scroll

HOW IT STARTED & HOW IT’S GOING


When LOOMIS started working with Golden Chick in 2014, the brand had 103 units and wanted to jumpstart growth and overhaul the brand. We partnered with their leadership team and now, eight years and more than double the units later, our integrated advertising campaign has dovetailed with a series of out-of-the-park promotional home runs to deliver consistent month-over-month same-store sales increases and outpacing of the brand’s QSR industry peers while doubling Average Unit Volume systemwide. We’ve positioned the brand as a rising QSR darling, earning perennial features on the industry’s most important lists of successful concepts.

Golden Chick 50 Tenders
Golden Chick Brand Essence

THE INSIGHTS THAT FIRED US UP

Early on in our working relationship, we knew the regional chicken brand had an awareness problem. Despite 50 years of consistent growth, our research revealed that less than 10 percent of Golden Chick customers were first time guests. Flip that on its head, and the data showed that once someone tried their delicious chicken, they were highly likely to come back. Qualitative and quantitative research scored the chain with high marks relating to both quality and healthy perceptions versus several other chicken restaurant brands. We knew if we could get people to try Golden Chick, the product would sell itself. We encouraged the client to lean into their commitment to quality food and get people who had never had Golden Chick products to try them for the first time.

ONE TASTE AND YOU’RE GOLDEN (PART 1)

With the client on board with the strategy, we needed creative that would take this “quality” message to the masses. Enter the Golden Chick food trailer and our improvisational interviewer, Marty. With mouth-watering food photography, updated brand music, and humorous interviews of people tasting Golden Chick for the very first time, the campaign introduced Golden Chick to new customers and reminded lapsed customers why they loved everything on the menu.

AT THE STORES


Updated artwork, redesigned menu boards, and new Point-of-Purchase signage from yard signs to banners worked hand-in-hand with refreshed store interiors to reinforce quality messages of delicious chicken, 100% tenderloin, 24-hour marination, plenty of side choices, and fresh-baked rolls.

ONE TASTE AND YOU’RE GOLDEN (PART 2)


Since its launch, the campaign has expanded the focus on quality core products to launch innovative promotional items. From a partnership with Fletcher’s Corny Dogs when the pandemic shut down the Texas State Fair, to tantalizing new tastes like their Big & Golden Chicken Sandwich, panko-breaded Shrimp and made-to-order Wicked Wings, the campaign showcased quality food made the Golden Chick way.

GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT


We’ve helped this brand ascend the ranks of rising restaurant brands in recent years by implementing an “always on” media strategy that allows for consistency of messaging as well as the opportunity to reach the masses during key meal decision times. To achieve this, we use local broadcast television, trade-area zoned spot cable, spot radio and local sports sponsorships in 22 DMAs. Our media team also negotiates special sports sponsorships each year that keep the brand in front of fans. During each Texas Rangers Baseball home game, for example, fans enjoy cheering on their favorite Dot during the Golden Chick Dot Race. In addition, our media team created a partnership for Golden Chick with Texas Country Reporter, a 50-year-old Texas-inspired television program that airs in all Texas DMAs as well as on RFD-TV.

A WHOLE NEW SOUND


Although the 2014 jingle still proved to be a memorable earworm, we needed a fresh sound that would complement the energy of our updated man on the street campaign. Careful to keep the spirit of the original jingle, we modernized the lyrics and sound to match the tone of our new spots. We then searched for a singer whose personality would reflect the Golden Chick brand—Frisco-native Britney Holmes fit the bill perfectly. Her infectious energy and lively stage presence gave this jingle the boost it needed to match the “One Taste & You’re Golden” campaign.

THE RESULTS ARE IN


System-wide sales have never been higher. Surpassing the 200th store mark, the brand ranks 142 in the Restaurant Business’ Top 500 and was named a Next Gen brand by Nation’s Restaurant News. The strength of both the campaign and the brand continued to prove itself during 2020, as the pandemic decimated the restaurant industry. Golden Chick not only survived but thrived. During 2021, sales growth and unit growth beat out three of the most popular chicken chains in the NRN top 15. Between 2020 and 2022, the brand increased its NRN ranking by 43 spots. Same-store sales grew by double digits. Sales growth during that time was higher than six restaurants in the top 10. AUV was higher than five other chicken chains in the top ten, overall.

THE CAMPAIGN IS STILL GOLDEN

Recently, we set about taking a refreshed looked at the four-year-old campaign, making sure not to lose what was clearly working. We sent our man on the street back out to the people, this time with new brand ambassadors by his side. We re-focused on capturing authentic experiences of first timers as they discovered the taste and quality of both classic core products and innovative new launches alike. Putting moments where Golden Chick fans are made on camera continues to demonstrate that the taste and quality of Golden Chick products is what drives growth, something we predict will keep right on growing.

“The LOOMIS Agency is more than an agency to us, they are a partner. They have played a huge role in our strong growth over the past several years: from pandemic-related marketing support to a 20-day pivot to launch a fresh and innovative product launch, to working with us to launch a breakthrough media strategy that effectively added 40% frequency of message across all of our restaurants. Their creative is breakthrough and their “Man on the Street” campaign has helped us differentiate ourselves from our direct competition and helped propel Golden Chick to one of the fastest growing QSR brands in the industry.”

– Howard Terry, Chief Marketing Officer, Golden Chick

 
GET IN TOUCH

We challenge underdog brands to think differently. We help them find their voice, and urge them to blaze new trails to make sure they stand out from the pack. Whether you need an agency of record or support on a project, we are here to help you win.

The dog says woof!

17120 DALLAS PARKWAY
SUITE 200
DALLAS, TX 75248

T

E

972.331.7000

[email protected]

Loomis

the voice of the underdog™

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • 4As
  • Contact

© 2025 The Loomis Corporation

  • About
  • Culture
  • News
  • People
  • Work
  • Expertise
  • Services
  • Careers
  • Blog
Texas Dairy Queen
What I Like About Texas - Case Study
Golden Chick
One Taste & You're Golden - Case Study
Black Bear Diner
Feels Like Home - Case Study

Free Download

The Voice of the Underdog®

Chapter 1

Let's Talk About Your Business
Contact Us
Home
  • About
    • Approach
    • Culture
    • News
    • Podcast
    • Our Book
  • People
  • Work
  • Expertise
    • Restaurant
    • Retail
    • Franchise
    • Healthcare
  • Services
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Let’s Connect