Executive Spotlight: Tom Gordon, Co-Founder & CEO of Slim Chickens (2027)
Tom Gordon is the co-founder and CEO of Slim Chickens, a fast-casual chicken tender chain based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He and Greg Smart opened the first restaurant near the University of Arkansas in February 2003, and TCU Magazine (summer 2026) reports the chain now has nearly 400 restaurants and more than 12,000 employees worldwide, across 32 U.S. states and several countries.
This page covers public professional information only, drawn from a university announcement, a university magazine profile and business press. It is about the Slim Chickens CEO, not others who share the name.
Current role and company
Slim Chickens is a fast-casual chicken tender restaurant chain headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Gordon is its co-founder and chief executive, a title given by the University of Central Arkansas (2026), the TCU Magazine profile (summer 2026) and Talk Business (2023). TCU Magazine says co-founder Greg Smart is now the chief marketing officer.
- CompanySlim Chickens, a fast-casual chicken tender chain based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, founded in 2003.
- TitleCo-Founder and CEO.
- Co-founderGreg Smart, now chief marketing officer (TCU Magazine, summer 2026).
- Reach32 U.S. states as of mid-2026, plus the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Malaysia (TCU Magazine).
Career path
- Early work. TCU Magazine says he interned at Merrill Lynch in Fort Worth and concluded that finance was not his path. He then worked at Macaroni Grill, where the article says he held nearly every restaurant role from server to trainer.
- Los Angeles. The same profile says he spent about three years bartending in Los Angeles, studying what makes guests want to return.
- Around 2000. Greg Smart called him with a plan for a chicken tender restaurant in Northwest Arkansas (TCU Magazine).
- February 2003. The first Slim Chickens opened near the University of Arkansas, funded by loans from family and friends, credit cards and savings, per TCU Magazine. Talk Business (2023) says Gordon and Smart founded the company in 2003 and that franchising began about a decade later.
- The 2000s. A second restaurant opened in Rogers, Arkansas, two years after the first, and by the end of the decade there were nine restaurants in Arkansas and Oklahoma (TCU Magazine).
- 2013. The first franchise restaurant opened in Texarkana.
- 2018 and 2019. The first United Kingdom restaurant opened in London in March 2018, with Cardiff and Bristol following in 2019 (TCU Magazine).
- July 2019. Talk Business reports that Atlanta private equity firm 10 Point Capital made an equity investment, expected to fund more than 600 new locations over 10 years.
What he is known for
- Taking a one-restaurant idea to a global chain. From one restaurant near the University of Arkansas in 2003, the chain now has nearly 400 restaurants and more than 12,000 employees worldwide, per TCU Magazine (summer 2026).
- International growth. After London in 2018, the chain added locations in Ireland, Germany and Malaysia, according to TCU Magazine. Talk Business (August 2020) also noted a location in Kuwait.
- A pandemic call. Talk Business (August 2020) reports that on July 22, 2020 he suspended dining-room service at eight company-owned stores in Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith. He is quoted as saying, "It was my call, and it will be my call when we open back up."
- Franchise-led growth. Talk Business (August 2020) said 37 franchise partners operated 73 restaurants while the company owned 24. By January 2023 the company had more than 300 signed agreements covering 1,100 units in development.
- Public speaking. The University of Central Arkansas named him its 2026 Davis Lecture Series speaker in its College of Business.
Leadership style and philosophy
These are Gordon's own words as reported in the pages read. In TCU Magazine (summer 2026) he said he believes "in leadership and taking care of people and doing the right things," and described himself as "still a hands-on leader who sees and tests any new item on the menu." Talk Business (2023) says he remains involved in major decisions including menus and restaurant prototypes, and quotes him on quality: "I think we've stuck to our knitting when it comes to quality."
On the company's direction, TCU Magazine quotes him: "Our goal is to grow and build out the organization to a worldwide restaurant powerhouse and a cultural phenomenon." In 2020 he told Talk Business the company should be "part of the solution" on public health and that reopening was "not all about the dollar." This page does not claim a wider philosophy than these remarks.
Key numbers
Company-reported or press-reported figures, each with its period. Counts differ by source and date.
- 2018Systemwide sales of $96.6 million, from the Franchise Times Top 200+ as cited by Talk Business (2020).
- August 2020Nearly 100 stores in 17 states plus London and Kuwait; 37 franchise partners ran 73 restaurants and the company owned 24 (Talk Business).
- January 2023More than 200 locations in 32 U.S. states and the UK; 50 stores opened in 2022; 2023 target of 80 openings, 60 domestic and 20 in the UK (Talk Business).
- 2025More than 70 restaurants opened (TCU Magazine, summer 2026).
- Mid-2026Nearly 400 restaurants, more than 12,000 employees and 32 states; Gordon expects at least 50 new stores and one or two new countries a year (TCU Magazine).
- Targets600 units by 2028 per the University of Central Arkansas (2026), or on pace for 600 by 2029 per TCU Magazine; the two sources differ.
Questions people ask
Who is Tom Gordon of Slim Chickens?
He is the co-founder and CEO of Slim Chickens, a fast-casual chicken tender chain based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This page is about him, not others who share the name.
Who founded Slim Chickens?
Tom Gordon and Greg Smart founded it in 2003. The first restaurant opened in February 2003 near the University of Arkansas, according to TCU Magazine.
How many Slim Chickens restaurants are there?
TCU Magazine (summer 2026) reported nearly 400 restaurants worldwide in 32 states, with locations in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Malaysia. Counts change, so check the company.
What did Tom Gordon do before Slim Chickens?
TCU Magazine says he interned at Merrill Lynch, worked at Macaroni Grill in several roles and spent about three years bartending in Los Angeles.
Who invested in Slim Chickens?
Talk Business reported that 10 Point Capital, an Atlanta private equity firm, made an equity investment in July 2019.
What are Slim Chickens' growth plans?
TCU Magazine says Gordon expects at least 50 new stores and one or two new countries a year, and that the chain is on pace for 600 restaurants by 2029. A University of Central Arkansas page cites a 600-unit goal by 2028.
Sources
- University of Central Arkansas: Tom Gordon, co-founder & CEO of Slim Chickens, to headline UCA's 2026 Davis Lecture Series · Title, 600-unit goal, 2026 lecture; hero photo captioned with his name
- TCU Magazine: Tom Gordon, Slim Chickens (summer 2026) · Career path, founding story, milestones, 2026 scale, his quotes
- Talk Business & Politics: Slim Chickens CEO: Pandemic won't blunt growth potential (Aug 2020) · 2019 investment, 2020 store counts, dining-room decision, quotes
- Talk Business & Politics: Slim Chickens opens 26th Arkansas store; plans to open 80 worldwide in 2023 (Jan 2023) · 2023 footprint, pipeline, targets, quotes
- HR Executive: The Recipe for Growth: Slim Chickens CEO Tom Gordon on Scalability and Succession Planning · Title confirmation; 2026 webcast listing
Facts were read from the linked pages on November 2, 2026. Titles and counts are as of the dates shown and may have changed. The hero photo is a portrait of Gordon alone from the University of Central Arkansas news page, whose caption names him; it is centered on a blurred background to fit the page format. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: University of Central Arkansas (news page)