Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Los Angeles-based chain that has built a cult following with its Nashville-inspired hot chicken, is preparing for a major European rollout. The company has struck an exclusive partnership with Azzurri Group, the operator behind ASK Italian, Zizzi, and Boojum, to open 180 restaurants across ten countries.
The deal marks one of the boldest European expansion plans by an American fast-casual brand this year. Azzurri Group will oversee development across markets including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Turkey, working with local joint venture partners to adapt the concept to regional tastes.
The chain entered the United Kingdom in late 2024 with a flagship restaurant in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue, followed by openings in Manchester and Birmingham. The initial response exceeded expectations, offering a strong signal of consumer demand for the brand’s signature fried chicken, spice-level customization, and comfort-food sides.
Steve Holmes, chief executive of Azzurri Group, described the partnership as a rare opportunity to scale a unique American concept. “Dave’s is a once-in-a-generation brand with potential for global success,” he said, pointing to its resonance with younger diners and its proven strength in competitive U.S. markets.
For Dave’s Hot Chicken, the partnership is equally strategic. Chief executive Bill Phelps emphasized Azzurri’s experience in brand-building and local market operations. “Their knowledge and infrastructure give us the ability to move quickly while ensuring the brand adapts effectively to Europe,” he said.
Founded in 2017 as a parking-lot pop-up in East Hollywood, Dave’s Hot Chicken has grown at a blistering pace, expanding to more than 280 locations across North America by 2024. Its growth was fueled by a viral menu, celebrity endorsements from Drake and Samuel L. Jackson, and, most recently, an investment from Roark Capital, which acquired a majority stake earlier this year in a deal that valued the brand at roughly $1 billion.
The European expansion underscores a broader trend in the global restaurant industry: U.S. fast-casual concepts leaning on experienced regional operators to accelerate international growth. With Azzurri’s resources and Dave’s cult-like brand appeal, the next stage of expansion may prove to be one of the most aggressive transatlantic plays in franchising this year.