The Minnesota-born hot chicken franchise has accelerated growth with more than 10 units in development
Minneapolis, MN (Restaurant News Release) Just six years ago, Nashville Coop was a lone food truck navigating the streets of the Twin Cities. Today, the purveyor of Ethio-Southern hot chicken is officially entering the national franchise arena, charting a multi-state rollout that signals a major strategic shift for the Minnesota-born brand.
Arif Mohamed, the company’s co-founder, just announced that Nashville Coop has more than 10 franchise units in active development. The initial expansion pipeline bridges the Midwest and the Eastern Seaboard, with targeted market penetration across Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
At least three of these franchised outposts are slated to open soon, including the brand’s highly anticipated debut in the Philadelphia market.
“The response to our franchise opportunity has exceeded our expectations,” Mohamed said. “Signing double-digit franchise agreements in under a year tells us there’s real demand for a concept that brings something different to the fast-casual chicken category.”
In a crowded fast-casual poultry sector, Nashville Coop has distinguished itself by infusing traditional Southern heat with a distinctive Ethiopian flavor profile. Having proven the concept’s viability through its four open locations, the company formally pivoted to a franchise model in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“We’ve spent the last few years engineering this business so it can scale aggressively without losing its edge,” Mohamed said. “We’re bringing a completely fresh culture and flavor to the East Coast. We’re moving fast, and we’re only partnering with operators who share that same momentum and want to build something massive.”
Nashville Coop franchise operators are supported by comprehensive training, established vendor relationships, marketing resources, and ongoing operational guidance designed to help launch and scale their location.
The company indicated that additional franchise agreements are entering the final stages of negotiation, as institutional and operator interest continues to build across the region. Driven by this momentum, Mohamed projects the brand is on track to have more than 20 franchise units in active development by the close of the year, a figure the company expects to double subsequently.
“This is only the beginning,” Mohamed said. “We’re building Nashville Coop with the long term in mind, and we’re excited to continue partnering with franchisees who want to grow alongside us.”
Learn more about the Nashville Coop franchise opportunity by visiting NashvilleCoop.com/page/franchising.
About Nashville Coop
Minnesota-born Nashville Coop is one of the nation’s fastest-growing hot chicken franchises. Known for its authentically spicy Southern and Ethiopian-inspired flavors, the brand was founded in 2020 by brothers Arif and Kamal Mohamed, who launched the concept from a single food truck in the Twin Cities. After quickly building a loyal following, Nashville Coop expanded into brick-and-mortar restaurants, where it continues to serve its signature hot chicken and fan-favorite offerings.
The company is growing its footprint nationwide through franchising. Learn more about Nashville Coop – NashvilleCoop.com. Follow Nashville Coop on Instagram and Facebook @nashvillecoop and @nashvillecoopfranchise.
Contact:
info@nashvillecoop.com