Who Owns Wingstop?
Its shareholders. Wingstop has been a public company on the Nasdaq since 2015, trading under the ticker WING, and almost every restaurant is owned and run by a franchisee.
How Wingstop started
Antonio Swad opened the first Wingstop in Garland, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, in 1994. He had earlier founded a pizza chain and saw an opening for a restaurant that did one thing: cooked to order chicken wings in a choice of bold flavors. The aviation theme, with flavor names like Atomic and Mango Habanero and a 1930s and 1940s look, set it apart from sports bars that served wings as a side line. Franchising began in 1997.
Ownership timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Antonio Swad opens the first Wingstop in Garland, Texas |
| 1997 | Wingstop begins selling franchises |
| 2003 | The founder sells the company to a private equity investor |
| 2010 | Roark Capital buys Wingstop |
| 2015 | Wingstop goes public on the Nasdaq under the ticker WING |
| Today | Owned by public shareholders, with thousands of restaurants worldwide |
Why almost every Wingstop is franchised
Wingstop runs what is called an asset light model. Instead of paying to build and staff restaurants, the company sells franchise rights and collects a share of each restaurant’s sales. Franchisees pay for the buildings, equipment and staff. That keeps Wingstop’s own costs low and is a big reason investors like the stock. It also means prices can vary slightly from one Wingstop to the next, because each owner sets prices within the company’s guidelines.
What this means for customers
Because Wingstop is franchised, the menu and flavors are the same nationwide, but prices, opening hours and local deals can differ. The Wingstop app with your restaurant selected shows the exact prices. See typical wing, combo and group pack prices on the Wingstop menu.
Related Questions
Who is the owner of Wingstop?
Wingstop is a public company owned by its shareholders. It trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker WING.
Who founded Wingstop?
Antonio Swad founded Wingstop in Garland, Texas in 1994.
When did Wingstop go public?
Wingstop listed on the Nasdaq in 2015.
Is Wingstop a franchise?
Yes. About 98 percent of Wingstop restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees.
Where is Wingstop headquartered?
In the Dallas area of Texas.
Why do Wingstop prices vary?
Franchise owners set their own prices within company guidelines, so prices differ by location.
More on Wingstop
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Wingstop Inc. Company details come from public filings and reporting. See current prices on the Wingstop menu.
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