Growing a restaurant brand today isn’t about sticking to the usual playbook. It’s about thinking differently, and Haven Hot Chicken is a great example of that. Launched in October 2020 in New Haven, Connecticut—right in the middle of the pandemic—this bold, delivery-focused concept skipped traditional seating and built something new. Fast forward to today: they’ve expanded to nine successful locations and are getting ready to franchise.

What’s even more impressive is how they’ve grown while holding firmly to their core values—hospitality, community, sustainability, and staying true to their product.

At SupplyCaddy, we’ve had the opportunity to work with fast-casual brands nationwide, and Haven Hot Chicken stands out as one of the most inspiring success stories. Their growth offers real, practical takeaways for entrepreneurs, restaurant operators, and investors alike.

What Does it Take to Scale a Restaurant Concept in the Middle of a Global Pandemic?

For the team behind Haven Hot Chicken, it was never just about great food, though that definitely played a part. It was about crafting an experience. From how they treated guests to the way their takeout packaging looked and felt, every detail had a purpose.

They opened during a tough time for the restaurant business. Instead of opening a regular dine-in restaurant, they started with curbside pickup only and no indoor seating. They focused on online orders and delivery apps, and it worked well.

What helped them succeed was their focus on good food, doing things the same way every time, and caring about their customers. They didn’t just sell hot chicken—they created a brand built on friendly service and strong values.

Today, they have nine locations and plan to open more through franchising. It hasn’t been easy, but their story shows how a smart plan and hard work can help a restaurant grow, even in a changing market.

Jason’s Journey From Bistros & Beer to Hot Chicken Success

Jason Sobocinski has done a lot in the food world. Before starting Haven Hot Chicken, he ran cheese shops, managed food trucks, and opened beer bars. He even earned a Master’s degree in Gastronomy from Boston University, a program started by Julia Child and Jacques Pépin.

But more than anything, Jason loves telling stories. Every business he’s started has been about bringing people together. He still remembers what it was like to bus tables in high school, and he makes time to listen to the staff working every day.

The idea for Haven Hot Chicken didn’t come from a big business plan. It started as a small pop-up with his co-founders Craig, Kin, and Rob. People loved it right away, so they began planning a real restaurant. Then COVID hit, and everything changed.

Instead of giving up, they made a new plan. They opened with no seating and a menu made just for takeout. While many restaurants were closing, they built something new, slowly and carefully.

That decision to stay small, make changes fast, and focus on customers is one big reason Haven Hot Chicken grew so quickly. It’s a good lesson for anyone in the food business: pay attention to your customers, be ready to change, and keep moving forward.

How Haven’s Brand Identity Goes Beyond Flavor

There’s no doubt the food is good. But what really makes Haven Hot Chicken stand out is the way they’ve built their brand.

It starts with language. Jason doesn’t call people customers. He calls them guests. Employees aren’t staff. They’re team members. And the company isn’t run from a corporate office. It’s run from HQ.

That might sound like small stuff, but it adds up. It creates a sense of pride and belonging. It helps everyone—guests, team members, and partners—feel like part of something bigger.

Their attention to detail is everywhere. They obsess over online review responses, making sure every guest feels seen and heard. They care about how bags open, not just what’s inside them. And they make sure their hospitality shows through—even when the guest never sets foot in the restaurant.

That’s important because more than a third of Haven Hot Chicken’s business comes from third-party delivery. In those cases, the bag is the only contact the guest has with the brand. So it has to make a great impression.

At Haven Hot Chicken, branding isn’t just about logos or taglines. It’s about how people feel when they interact with the business. And that starts from the inside out.

Why Compostable Packaging Matters to the Mission

All of their packaging is either compostable or biodegradable. Even the straws and utensils are eco-friendly. The packaging isn’t just good for the planet—it also works well. Their containers are designed with vents to keep the chicken crispy, even during delivery.

This isn’t just for show. They’re serious about making sustainability a real part of the business. As Jason says, “We want to do the right thing—but it has to make sense financially too.” That means working with partners who offer eco-friendly products that are also affordable.

So far, this approach is working. Customers appreciate the effort, and the business continues to grow without giving up its values. The big lesson? You can make smart, sustainable choices without losing money, as long as you plan carefully.

Creative Ways Haven Hot Chicken Supports the Local Community

If you want people to support your brand, you have to support them first. That’s a belief the team at Haven Hot Chicken takes seriously.

They give back in lots of different ways. One example is the Great Banana Pudding Drive. For every banana pudding sold, 50 cents goes to Connecticut Foodshare. So far, that’s helped provide over 180,000 meals for people in need.

They also back local sports teams, support first responders, and invest in NIL deals with college athletes. Every location looks for ways to connect with its local community, not with big marketing campaigns, but with real, consistent support.

Inside the business, they also focus on career growth. Many team members start at entry-level jobs and work their way into management. The founders hold regular coffee chats with staff to gather feedback and ideas. In fact, the idea to add thumb notches to the takeout bags came from one of those chats.

That kind of culture builds loyalty. And it makes expansion easier, because team members are proud to represent the brand.

What’s Next for Haven Hot Chicken as a Franchise-Ready Concept

Now that they’ve proven the model, Haven Hot Chicken is getting ready to expand through franchising. Their setup is simple but powerful: locations between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet, limited seating, and strong off-premise operations.

They use a modern tech stack—Toast POS, Bikki, Ovation, and Restaurant365—to keep everything running smoothly. Their average unit volumes are strong, between $1.3 to $2.2 million, and they’re focused on regional expansion in places like Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The team isn’t trying to grow as fast as possible. They’re looking for the right partners—people who share their values and understand what makes the brand special. For the right operator, this is a huge opportunity.

Top 3 Lessons From Haven Hot Chicken’s Founders on Building a Scalable Food Brand

1. People Build Brands, Not Products

As Jason puts it: “People are the hardest part—and the greatest asset.”

At Haven Hot Chicken, their growth didn’t come from a viral video or a trendy menu item. It came from building a strong, supportive team. From day one, the founders made it a priority to create a workplace where people feel seen, heard, and valued.

They promote team members from within, giving employees real opportunities to grow. They host casual coffee chats with staff to check in, hear concerns, and gather ideas. Most importantly, they listen and act on the feedback they get.

The result? A team that believes in the brand and takes pride in their work. That kind of culture creates consistency, energy, and care that customers can feel.

If you want to scale your food brand, start with your people. The team behind the counter, in the kitchen, and on the front lines are your best brand ambassadors. Take care of them, and they’ll take care of your guests—and your business.

2. Hospitality Doesn’t End at the Door

Over 40% of Haven Hot Chicken’s orders come from delivery. That means a lot of guests never step inside a store. So, how do you make sure they still get a great experience?

For Haven, the answer is smart packaging. They go the extra mile to make sure their food travels well. They test containers by mimicking real delivery conditions—long drives, bumpy rides, even tossing the bags around—to make sure everything still tastes great when it arrives.

The result? Packaging that actually works. It keeps the food hot, crispy, and fresh, just like it should be.

If you’re in the food business, don’t overlook your packaging. It’s more than just a box, it’s part of your brand. It should look good, feel solid, and do its job. Because when it doesn’t, your guests notice.

3. Sustainability Should Serve Both Purpose and Profit

Sustainability matters. But it also has to make sense financially.

Haven Hot Chicken proves that you can do both. They use compostable packaging that meets their values and their budget. They’ve donated more than 180,000 meals through banana pudding sales. And they’re always looking for ways to reduce waste and support the community.

If you’re making choices about your packaging or sourcing, ask yourself: Does this match our values? And can we afford to scale it? When the answer is yes to both, you’re on the right path.

SupplyCaddy Sits Down with Haven Hot Chicken Co-Founder

Want to hear more directly from Jason Sobocinski? In a recent episode of Delivered: The Journey of Packaging, our co-founders Zack Stein and Bradley Saveth sat down with Jason to talk about Haven Hot Chicken’s growth, values, and approach to packaging.

Listen to the full conversation here:

Want Your Food Packaging to Perform Like Haven Hot Chicken’s?

At SupplyCaddy, we’re proud to support brands like Haven Hot Chicken with custom, compostable packaging designed for the real world—keeping food hot, fresh, and secure from kitchen to doorstep.

Whether you’re launching a new concept or scaling an existing brand, we’ll help you create packaging that protects your food, aligns with your values, and elevates the guest experience at every touchpoint.

Let’s build packaging that grows with your brand. Visit us at SupplyCaddy.com, or reach out directly. For general inquiries, contact us at hello@supplycaddy.com. For supplier inquiries, email supplier@supplycaddy.com.

Your packaging should do more than just hold food, it should deliver your brand. Let’s get started.