Dickey's Barbecue Pit Expands Locations in Mississippi

The Country's Largest Growing Barbecue Chain Has its Eye on Expansion in the State

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Jan 25, 2011, 07:19 ET

MERIDIAN, Miss., Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dickey's Barbecue Pit, the largest and fastest growing barbecue chain in the country, continues their expansion in Mississippi as they open a new location in Meridian this Wednesday.

The new Dickey's is located at 103 South Frontage Rd., Suite 200 in the Meridian Crossroads shopping complex.

Dickey's is growing at a rapid pace, now with 139 locations and 60 set to open in 2011 so far.

The company already has its growing presence with locations in Laurel and Hattiesburg.

"It's an exciting feeling to bring Dickey's to Meridian. I am confident Dickey's will be received really well," Franchise Owner Tommy Thornton said. "Meridian is a great place to live and a great place to do business."

This is the first Dickey's location for Thornton, along with his partners Bill Clay, Doug Wilkerson, and Roy Barnette.

The owner said he was drawn to the Dickey's concept because of the company's rich history.

"This is a really exciting time to be a part of the Dickey's brand because we growing so fast and expanding around the country," Thornton said. "But, what's most important to me is that Dickey's has always stayed true to its roots. We are a chain restaurant, but all of our recipes are family recipes dating back to 1941—you can't get more authentic than that."

Dickey's annual growth rate over the past two years has averaged 35 percent, according to company officials.

"Our company's potential for growth lies in our commitment to exceptional barbecue, a great business model and a formula for success," President of Dickey's Barbecue Roland Dickey, Jr. said. "When we began franchising in 1994, I knew this is where we were headed. We just needed to get there. Now, with so much buzz around the brand, we are expanding by leaps and bounds."

The first Dickey's Barbecue opened in 1941 in Dallas, TX.

The original location is still open for business and Dickey's Barbecue is still owned and operated by the Dickey Family.

Even today, Dickey's still slow smokes all of their signature meats overnight in every restaurant.

For more information about Dickey's visit www.dickeys.com.

For franchising information, call us at 866-340-6188.