VOLUME 97

JANUARY 3, 2024

Owners & Operators,

Hey Foodie Friends!

Can you believe it? We've hustled through 2023 and now find ourselves in the delicious landscape of 2024! As we embark on this new year, get ready for some sizzling sales opportunities heading your way for all your fantastic restaurants! 🎉

Exciting Flavor Comeback Alert

We're thrilled to announce the grand return of our mouthwatering Cayenne Ranch and Lemon Pepper Dry Rubs! It's time to spice up those dishes and tantalize those taste buds once again.

Mark Your Calendars: Promo 2A Launches on January 29th!

Starting Monday, January 29th, we're putting the spotlight on our Wings, shining a beacon on the revival of the Cayenne Ranch and Lemon Pepper Dry Rubs. But that's not all! We've got some tasty sidekicks—introducing the Red Velvet Oreo Shake, Heart-Shaped Chicken & Waffles, and the Birthday Jar Dessert.

Get Ready to Soft Roll!

Your restaurants should start teasing the Dry Rubs, Red Velvet Shake, and Heart-Shaped Waffles on January 22nd. And don't forget, the Birthday Jar Dessert joins the party two weeks later on February 5th. For the full scoop, dive into the Promo 2A PIG Book linked below!

Program Implementation Guide (PIG Book)

Check out the Promo 2A PIG Book for all the essential dates and details. Get prepped and primed so that when the promotion hits, your stores are ready to rock!

Gear Up with Training Materials

Ahead of the soft roll week, expect hard copies of the recipes in your Promo 2A POP Kit. Wanna get a taste beforehand? Click the links below to preview the recipes:

Dry Rub Wings Procedure

Dry Rub Seasonings

Red Velvet Oreo Milkshake

Birthday Jar Dessert

Get ready to spread your wings and savor the flavors because we've got some exciting updates for 2024 that will make your taste buds dance!

Drumroll, please! 🍗🎉

2024 Tender Program Takeoff:

Buckle up as we soar into a brand-new tender territory! Throughout the year, all suppliers are set to transition to an unmarinated program, bidding adieu to the pre-marinated world. But fear not, because all unmarinated products will just need a bit of brining. No need for new equipment or other process changes—it's smooth sailing ahead.

Meet Your Suppliers:

Hold tight for the supplier rundown! Wayne Farms and Case Farms, our current Natural Fall Suppliers, are not only continuing their flavorful journey but have also secured additional supply for 2024. Plus, we're excited to welcome three new suppliers onboard:

1. House of Raeford/Fillet of Chicken (Hand Portioned Tenders)
2. Simmons Foods (CENTRAL Natural Fall Supplier)
3. Foster Farms (WEST COAST Natural Fall Supplier)

2024 Wing Program Launch:

But wait, there's more flavor to savor! Our 2024 Wing Program is set to take flight with some exciting tweaks to ensure top-notch taste. Brace yourselves for wing delight with 5-7 count/lb size wings. We're ramping up the blanching and cook times by 15 and 30 seconds, respectively, and tweaking the Fryer Vat Labels for adjusted cook times/locations.

Farewell to Old Suppliers, Welcome New Flavors:

We're bidding adieu to the past as we move entirely to two new wing suppliers for 2024, driven by our commitment to top-notch quality and affordability.

Say hello to:

1. Amick Farms (90% of system)
2. PMI/Trilogy Foods (10% of system)

Stay in the Loop:

As your markets transition and evolve, we'll keep you in the loop about these exciting changes. Updated training materials will be at your fingertips when your locations make the switch.

Get those taste buds ready for an epic 2024 filled with new flavors, tantalizing tenders, and fantastic wings!

Get ready to conquer the chicken universe with Zenput - Chicken Counts - swooping in and available for action starting January 8th, 2024.

Why limit the chicken joy to just one day? This game-changing tool lets you complete counts any day of the week. Pro tip: A single count per delivery is the name of the game!

Big Bird, Tenders, and Wings, oh my! Enter counts for these cluckin' good items and spread those chicken wings!

But wait, there's more! This app isn't just about numbers; it's a visual feast too. Managers, get those cameras ready! Zenput allows you to snap and upload photos directly into the app.

Why do counts matter, you ask? Well, here's the scoop: These counts aren't just about crunching numbers. They're the secret sauce that helps our Supply Chain team understand what's cookin' in the field. Your counts tell the tale of chicken adventures and help us keep the chicken supply soaring!

So, gear up, snap away, and count those chickens because Zenput is about to take your chicken counting game to a whole new level!

Recap:

Available starting January 8th, 2024.

Can be completed any day of the week.

Recommend one count per delivery.

Counts for Big Bird, Tenders, and Wings can be entered.

Allows managers to upload photos directly to the app.

Counts help the Supply Chain team identify what is happening in the field.

The countdown is on! 🚀

Don't let time fly by without grabbing your spot at the most epic conference of the year! Trust us, you won't want to miss out on this feast of knowledge and fun.

The theme is Summit 2024!

Got your eyes set on attending this fantastic February event? Well, buckle up and secure your place in the excitement! Registration for Owners/Operators and our esteemed partners is now LIVE! Click this link to join the conference extravaganza.

But wait, there's a treasure trove of goodies waiting for you on our website too! Here's what you'll discover:

• A sneak peek at the preliminary agenda with all the juicy times for each day.
• Travel tidbits to guide you on your journey to this incredible event.
• FAQs to clear any foggy conference queries.
• Hotel Booking Info and the golden link to book your cozy conference digs (available post-registration).

Ready to make your conference dreams a reality?

Here's your step-by-step guide:

1. Click the link to land on our Event Website and hit that "Register" button.
2. Once you're in, click "Register Now."
3. Choose the number of attendees you're bringing under "Franchisee."
4. Fill in all your dazzling details in the form.
5. Hit submit and voila!

You'll receive a confirmation email that'll unlock the portal to book your hotel room and revisit the event website.

Quick tip: Hotel booking deadline is Friday, January 19, 2024—don't snooze on that!

A Few Friendly Reminders:

🔔 January 12, 2024, is the deadline to sign up, so mark those calendars!

💸Registration Fee is $399.

💡 Got questions or need assistance? Our Slim Chickens planning team is all ears! Shoot us a message at [email protected].

Psst! One more thing: If your franchise group has overdue charges from past conferences, resolve those fees to ensure your ticket to this year's awesome event. Let's clear those hurdles and make it a conference to remember!

Get ready to unlock a world of insights, connections, and good times! See you at the conference of a lifetime!

Holiday Gift Card Contest: Final Week Results

🎉 The Gift Card Contest Winners Are Here! 🎉

Cue the confetti cannons and get ready to celebrate because the results for our epic Holiday Gift Card Contest are IN, and boy, oh boy, do we have some winners to toast!

Restaurant Superstars

Taking center stage as our crowned champion is none other than Athens, AL (Legends) with a jaw-dropping $11,347 in Gift Card Sales between 11/27 and 12/31! Mount Juliet, TN (Houchens) swooped in for a spectacular 2nd place, securing a cool $8,142. And rounding out our podium finishers, Sioux Falls #2 (TNT) soared into 3rd place with an impressive $7,595 in Gift Card Sales. But hold onto your chicken hats because the Top 10 restaurants all crushed it with an average of over $5,000 in gift card sales during the contest!

And that's not all the clucking excitement! Slim Chickens itself reached new heights by surpassing $300,000 in Holiday Gift Card Sales for the first time ever! The brand soared to a stunning $315,178, zooming past last year's record by an incredible $80,000-plus.

Franchise Champions

In the land of franchises, SC Coop has taken home the crown with an impressive average of $7,516 in gift card sales, earning the coveted Golden Gift Cards Necklace! The Davis Group wowed us once again, snagging the Silver Gift Card Necklace for the second year running, with a remarkable $6,141 per restaurant average. Our top five franchise groups are completed by Legends, Houchens, and the fresh face of Ultra Vortex.

🎁 It's Prize Time! 🎁

Buckle up for prizes galore! Franchise groups with winning restaurants are set to receive their fantastic rewards next week. But wait, the excitement doesn't end there! SC Coop and the Davis Group will e honored with their remarkable gift card necklaces at the upcoming Franchise Conference in February!

For a detailed rundown of the final results, prizes, and more, check out the attached final report that lists each restaurant and group's triumphant achievements in the 2023 contest.

Cheers to our incredible winners, the gift card heroes who made this season merry and bright! Let's raise a wing and toast to their phenomenal success!

2023 HOLIDAY GIFT CARD CONTEST PRIZE BREAKDOWN:

Top 10 Restaurant Prizes (11/27 – 12/31 Contest)

• 1st Place: $750 Visa Gift Card for GM and four $50 Visa drawings for team members
• 2nd-4th Place: $500 Visa Gift Card for GM and two $50 Visa drawings for team members
• 5th-7th Place: $250 Visa Gift Card for GM and two $50 Visa drawings for team members
• 8th - 10th Place: $100 Visa Gift Card for GM and two $25 Visa drawings for team members

Top Franchise Group Prizes (11/27 – 12/31 Contest)

• 1st Place will win the Golden Gift Card Necklace and a $500 Marketing Hub/Slim’s Shop Credit
• 2nd Place will win the Silver Gift Card Necklace and a $250 Marketing Hub/Slim’s Shop Credit

Leader Boards

Hey there Porch Pals!

New year, new Porch! We are shaking even more things up with Porch Support! Have a question that can be solved without a ticket? We got you!

Have a Problem?

Password not working? Profile change needed? Check out our FAQ page to see if we have an answer to what you are looking for!

How do I find it?

You can now find a link to the FAQ page right on the Porch homepage! Or hey, for now, you can just click right here – we've made it easy for you with this super convenient link!

Click on your favorite choice to let your voice be heard!

Last Week's Results are in!

You guys asked for more training, and you guys are getting more training!

Way to go Training!

Be sure to vote this week, and have your voice be heard!

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