Lee's Famous Recipe® Chicken gathered more than 280 franchise owners, corporate leaders and business partners for its annual Family Reunion at the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles, MO, where the brand celebrated record-breaking growth and outlined ambitious plans for the future. CEO Ryan Weaver opened the conference by highlighting that 2024 system sales climbed to $235 million, with 2025 tracking ahead of that milestone. The brand now boasts an average unit volume of $1.85 million and is pushing toward a $2 million goal. Lee's also announced development goals to more than double the current unit count by 2030, while investing in rebranding initiatives that modernize existing restaurants. Attendees saw this success firsthand at the recently remodeled St. Charles location, which has seen an 8% sales lift and 7% traffic growth.
The reunion focused on connection, inspiration, and shared purpose. Guest speakers Danny Klein, VP Editorial Director of QSR Magazine, and Scott Greenberg, author and management trainer, challenged attendees to think bigger, delivering insights on leadership and industry trends. One of the most memorable moments was the gathering of Jack Omer and Katie Bennett, grandchildren of Lee's founders, bringing nearly 60 years of history to life. The event culminated in the Awards Dinner, where Lee's recognized outstanding operators. The Legacy Award was given to Emmett and Jenny Gamache from St. Louis, MO for their decades of commitment. NLM Enterprises LLC received Operator of the Year for exceptional sales performance in Detroit, MI. Henry Loving of HTL Inc. won the Pacesetter Award for the highest system sales, with his Richmond, VA store topping more than $6 million in annual sales.
"Our Family Reunion shows why Lee's keeps growing year after year," said Ryan Weaver. "We celebrated record-breaking sales, honored operators who set the standard, and gained powerful insights from industry leaders. Having the founders' grandchildren with us brought our story full circle. That combination of heritage and momentum sets Lee's apart and positions us to achieve our boldest goals yet." For more information, visit LeesFamousRecipe.com or explore franchising opportunities at LeesFamousRecipe.com/franchise.
