Starbird Chicken secured a $12 million investment during a funding round led by private-equity firm KarpReilly. The self-proclaimed “super-premium fast food” chicken chain plans to use the investment to expand operations throughout California.
“Over the last 18 months, consumers’ needs and wants have changed dramatically,” Ryan Greene, a principal at KarpReilly, said in a statement.
“They’re interacting with restaurants in a different way and have become even more particular about what they eat and how they purchase it. Starbird has clearly demonstrated it can deliver premium, high-quality food and an unrivaled customer experience even in the most difficult operating environment.”
In 2020, Starbird Chicken closed a $4 million cash infusion led by Greg Dollarhyde, founder of Dollarhyde Enterprise Group and one of the original investors in Starbird Chicken.
“When we created Starbird five years ago, we saw consumers were looking for more out of fast food and that there was an enormous opportunity for someone to step up and establish a new segment, which Starbird calls super-premium fast food. We're incredibly proud to be a leader in the innovation of this space and are energized by what's to come,” Dollarhyde said of the latest investment round.
More restaurants planned
The fast casual chicken sandwich concept plans to use the money to launch franchising and open more restaurants and ghost kitchens.
Starbird Chicken debuts its first ghost kitchen last year, where it operates four virtual brands, including Starbird Wings, Starbird Salads and a new plant-based focused concept, Gardenbird.
“This year has been a phenomenal one for Starbird and this capital infusion is evidence that our mission to reimagine what fast food can and should be has potential for exponential growth,” CEO and founder Aaron Noveshen said in a statement.
“When we created Starbird five years ago, we saw consumers were looking for more out of fast food and that there was an enormous opportunity for someone to step up and establish a new segment, which Starbird calls super-premium fast food. We're incredibly proud to be a leader in the innovation of this space and are energized by what's to come."
Starbird Chicken first opened in 2016 in San Francisco and offers sandwiches, salads, tacos, chicken tenders and wings. The chain, operated by The Culinary Edge, currently has nine locations, with four additional units opening this year.
