Wing Zone Drums Up International Expansion Starting With Panama
Seizing on Panama’s love of American brands, chicken, and spice, the Wing Zone is taking its business international with its first overseas location in Panama City.
The Atlanta-headquartered restaurant chain was founded in a University of Florida fraternity house in 1991 as a late-night munchie concept and today specializes in deep-fried food products, especially buffalo wings. With about 100 U.S. locations, the Wing Zone is also striking deals to open franchises in Japan, the Bahamas and U.S. military bases, in addition to the five units planned for Panama City.
On the menu are wings, boneless wings, chicken fingers, buffalo shrimp, sandwiches, beer-battered onion rings, fried mushrooms, potato wedges, salads, and brownie and banana foster bites. The Wing Zone is perhaps best knows for its 15 signature sauces including the award-winning Hot, Thai Chili and Garlic Parmesan sauces.
The first Panama City Wing Zone opens today, Monday, in San Francisco near the McDonald’s on Calle 50. Future locations include El Dorado, Albrook, Brisas del Golf and Costa del Este.
Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., initial delivery areas in Panama City will cover El Carmen, Bella Vista, Coco del Mar, El Golf, San Francisco, Obarrio, Balboa Avenue, Punta Pacifica, Punta Paitilla and El Cangrejo.
For more information about Wing Zone expansion into Panama, see QSR report.
Well, I think its safe to say that if it involves deep-fried food products Panama will welcome it in a ravenous embrace. However, let Wing Zone be warned, their conquest of the isthmus will not be without fierce competition from the ubiquitous Pio Pio’s, fondas, street chicken stands, and other such deep-fried food produce dispensaries. That said, for a really sound, and somewhat unconventional business venture, someone might want to consider opening a few liposuction and diabetes medication clinics.