Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken 2025 Annual Conference & Growth Strategy FAQ

What was the main purpose of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken’s annual conference?

The annual Lee’s Family Reunion brought together franchise owners, corporate leaders, and business partners to celebrate record-breaking growth, chart future expansion plans, recognize outstanding operators, and strengthen connections within the brand community.

What were the key financial achievements highlighted at the conference?

Lee’s reported 2024 system sales of $235 million with 2025 tracking ahead of that milestone, an average unit volume of $1.85 million, and one location achieving over $6 million in annual sales. The brand is pushing toward a $2 million per unit goal.

What are Lee’s development and expansion goals for the future?

Lee’s aims to more than double its current unit count by 2030 while investing in rebranding initiatives that modernize existing restaurants, as demonstrated by the remodeled St. Charles location that saw an 8% sales lift and 7% traffic growth.

Who were the key speakers and special guests at the conference?

Guest speakers included Danny Klein, VP Editorial Director of QSR Magazine, and Scott Greenberg, author and management trainer, while special guests included Jack Omer and Katie Bennett, grandchildren of Lee’s founders, representing nearly 60 years of brand history.

What awards were presented and who received them?

Three major awards were presented: the Legacy Award to Emmett and Jenny Gamache for decades of commitment, Operator of the Year to NLM Enterprises LLC for exceptional performance, and the Pacesetter Award to Henry Loving of HTL Inc. for achieving over $6 million in annual sales.

Where and when did the Lee’s Family Reunion take place?

The annual conference was held at the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles, MO, with the event announcement dated October 20, 2025.

How does the rebranding initiative impact existing restaurants?

The rebranding modernizes existing restaurants, as shown by the remodeled St. Charles location which experienced an 8% sales increase and 7% growth in customer traffic following its renovation.

What makes Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken’s growth strategy significant?

The brand’s combination of record-breaking financial performance, ambitious expansion goals to double units by 2030, and successful modernization initiatives demonstrates strong momentum in the competitive restaurant industry while maintaining its nearly 60-year heritage.

Who leads Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken and what was their perspective on the event?

CEO Ryan Weaver leads the company and stated that the Family Reunion demonstrates why Lee’s keeps growing year after year, celebrating sales records, honoring top operators, and gaining insights from industry leaders to think bigger.