Cushman & Wakefield supports Dave’s Hot Chicken’s launch in Poland

23 września 2026

US fast-casual brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is preparing to enter Poland, with global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield supporting the company in its search for locations across the country. Azzurri Group, the operator responsible for the brand’s expansion in Europe, plans to open around 25 restaurants as part of its initial rollout.

Azzurri Group holds the rights to develop the brand in ten European countries and plans to open at least 180 restaurants across the continent. The expansion began in the UK, where the first restaurant opened in December 2024 on Shaftesbury Avenue in London, near Piccadilly Circus. Poland is set to become Dave’s Hot Chicken’s first market in Central and Eastern Europe.

Poland is currently one of Europe’s most exciting foodservice markets: it is growing rapidly, has a young urban consumer base and remains open to new concepts. Chicken is already a strong category, but we see clear room for a brand that combines product quality with atmosphere, distinctive design and an experience that guests want to share on social media. Poland will be our next major step and our first entry into Central and Eastern Europe,

says Lea Ghanem, European Business Development Director, Azzurri Group.

C&W builds a portfolio of locations

Cushman & Wakefield’s retail tenant representation team is supporting Dave’s Hot Chicken and Azzurri Group with the brand’s debut in Poland.

We see strong potential for international foodservice concepts that combine a distinctive product offering with proven business expertise. Dave’s Hot Chicken is particularly well placed to meet the expectations of young urban consumers, while the plan to develop around 25 restaurants demonstrates a long-term commitment to the Polish market. In our search for suitable premises, we will assess footfall, visibility, accessibility, the wider location context and the target customer profile. Our aim is to build a portfolio of locations that will enable the brand to grow consistently in line with its strategy,

mówi Anna Valcea, Tenant Representation Manager, Associate, Retail Department, Cushman & Wakefield.

Initial plan covers around 25 restaurants

Azzurri Group intends to enter Poland through a joint venture model designed to combine the operator’s experience in developing Dave’s Hot Chicken across Europe with knowledge of the local market and local customer needs.

Our ambition is to establish Dave’s Hot Chicken as one of Poland’s leading fast-casual brands. We will begin with a disciplined rollout of around 25 restaurants, following a test-and-learn approach, before scaling the business further. We are looking for a partner who shares our long-term vision and will be fully committed to bringing this distinctive concept to the Polish market,

adds Lea Ghanem.

Dave’s Hot Chicken’s menu centres on made-to-order Nashville-style hot chicken. Its restaurants feature interiors inspired by Los Angeles, street art and music. Azzurri Group intends to retain the concept’s core elements in Poland. Local adaptation will focus primarily on communicating the quality of the product, explaining the heat scale and making it easier for customers to discover the brand.

From US$900 to a network of more than 400 restaurants

Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded in 2017, when four friends launched a pop-up in an East Hollywood car park. They had a budget of US$900, folding tables and a portable fryer. Strong interest from local customers quickly raised the concept’s profile. In 2019, the founders joined forces with Bill Phelps, co-founder and former CEO of Wetzel’s Pretzels, to develop a franchise model. The brand subsequently sold franchise rights for more than 1,000 locations across the United States, Canada, the Middle East and Europe, with more than 400 restaurants already open.

In 2025, Dave’s Hot Chicken was acquired by Roark Capital in a transaction valued at US$1 billion. Investors associated with the brand have also included Drake, Usher and Samuel L. Jackson. Dave’s Hot Chicken has attracted more than 7 million followers on social media.

Karolina Samczyńska

Head of Marketing and Sales Enablement, Poland Cushman & Wakefield