How do you turn a street food concept into a global brand with nearly 400 locations? On this episode of Behind the Numbers, hosts Rich Sweeney and Marc Cohen interview the financial architects behind Dave’s Hot Chicken: CFO James McGehee and SVP of Finance Scott Putman.

They discuss the brand's explosion from a parking lot to an international sensation, utilizing a lean team and powerful tech stack to support hundreds of franchisees. James and Scott break down the numbers, revealing how they process 25 million pounds of chicken annually and why "extra large birds" are critical to their craveable product. Plus, hear about their new partnership with the largest restaurant owner in the world and what’s coming next with "Dave's After Dark".

In this episode:

• Operational Excellence: Moving from 3.8 to 4.7 stars on Yelp/Google.
• Franchise Economics: AUVs of $3M and strong ROIC.
• Menu Innovation: The success of "Cauliflower" and secret menu hacks.

Subscribe for more insights into what makes a successful restaurant tick.