Big Chicken’s 2025 to-do list is – drumroll – big! As if a 300+ unit nationwide expansion wasn’t enough, Shaquille O’Neal is pushing his business partners to make his chicken empire as larger than life as the giant is. Bite Kiosk, Frosted Flakes collabs, food trucks, arena expansions, and possible reality shows are only the surface. O’Neal initiated a major investment round for his ambitious plans. Plans that Big Chicken CEO, Josh Halpern is hinting at.

In the lead-up to 2025, Big Chicken generated $10 million in a seed round at a $37.5 million valuation. Halpern followed it up with an investor presentation where he revealed one of the plans this money will go towards.

Big Chicken Shaq’s global footprint

Branded Hospitality Ventures of New York helped Big Chicken raise $10 million at the end of 2024 Darren Marble, the CEO of CrowdfundX, announced in mid-December, “Breaking: we’ve secured a $750K allocation in Shaq’s Big Chicken.” Marble’s expertise in the space and his marketing firm was enlisted for Shaq’s big expansion plans. Along with the $10 million raised in investments, $750,000 is allocated to something specific. What that is, is still under wraps.

Josh Halpern addressed investors later to reveal how these funds are going to grow Big Chicken. The projected nationwide expansion is estimated at 272 restaurants by 2029. But Big Chicken Shaq is not going to be contained by borders when its namesake is a global icon.

The first international Big Chicken store opened in Manchester, England, in May 2024. Perry Rogers (the R in JRS Hospitality, Big Chicken’s parent group) said another one is coming in Barbados earlier. Halpern listed that Shaquille O’Neal’s fast casual dining empire has a lot more international potential.

Big Chicken investors were told that multiple stores are opening in Canada soon. It included at least three spots in sports arenas and two conventional units with a confirmed franchisee. They’ve also confirmed a 30-unit deal in Central America with units in development in Honduras. And because of Shaq’s longstanding relations with Abu Dhabi, the UAE is on the roadmap too. Halpern even said they’re getting a lot of interest from India!

As per Halpern, if things go well, Big Chicken will snag at least 10% of KFC’s market in any region. But that’s not all the cards.

Shaquille O’Neal’s growing the Big Chicken family

This is a big deal for Shaquille O’Neal as a businessman. He’s a prolific investor who has grown established businesses and usually does stock for endorsement deals. Big Chicken is one of his first businesses he started from the ground up, to celebrate his mother’s recipes she raised him on. He’s seeking investments in it for ambitious plans.

At the Go Big Conference in 2024, Halpern said that Shaq’s mom and his eldest daughter, Taahirah, are getting more hands-on in Big Chicken’s growth. He even hinted at an unscripted show, similar to the 2018 Facebook Watch series that launched O’Neal’s restaurant chain, with the three generations of O’Neals.

The funds will also go towards personnel, marketing/tech stack, and international IP execution. A big part of this growth will be fueled by what Halpern dubbed the “Shaquille PR Machine.” Shaq himself gave an illustration of that at the Go Big Conference.

One of his PR tactics is putting a guy outside Vegas conventions to announce, “Shaquille O’Neal welcomes you to Las Vegas. Try Big Chicken.” With Shaq’s global fame and ‘free marketing tactics,’ Big Chicken’s publicity costs are marginal.

Big Chicken has lost a few franchisees. But the growth has offset that. Meanwhile, Halpern has made some experienced hires to appeal to the masses beyond Shaq fans. Halpern touts communication between corporate and franchisees as the core of the success.

All things point to O’Neal’s ambitious dreams for a chicken empire dedicated to his mom.