Dave’s Hot Chicken plans Polish debut as NEAPOLSKA 2.0 launches franchising

Poland’s restaurant market is attracting further expansion plans. Dave’s Hot Chicken is preparing to enter the country, while restaurant brand NEAPOLSKA 2.0 is beginning to expand through franchising. September’s reports highlight two different routes to growth: the arrival of an international brand and the opening of a restaurant concept to franchise partners. For prospective franchisees, however, the key is to distinguish planned openings from an actual franchise opportunity.

Dave’s Hot Chicken: around 25 restaurants in the first phase

As Polish business newspaper Puls Biznesu reported on 23 September 2026, US chain Dave’s Hot Chicken is preparing to make its Polish debut and is looking for restaurant premises. Azzurri Group, which is developing the brand in Europe, plans to open around 25 outlets in the first phase of its expansion into Poland.

This indicates the intended scale of expansion, not the number of restaurants already operating. The report did not give a date for the first opening or list any Polish locations. The figure of around 25 outlets should therefore not be treated as an investment timetable or a tally of signed leases.

Polish news website INNPoland provided further context on 24 September. According to its report, the brand’s European plan covers at least 180 outlets, with Poland set to be the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to welcome Dave’s Hot Chicken. The planned Polish debut is therefore part of a broader expansion programme.

For readers interested in franchising, an important caveat remains: the information about the Polish launch does not include terms for recruiting individual franchisees. A search for premises and a programme of openings do not, in themselves, mean that such an opportunity is available.

NEAPOLSKA 2.0 reveals initial franchise terms

The news about NEAPOLSKA 2.0 is different in nature. On 21 September 2026, franchise portal Franchising.pl reported that the brand was launching a franchise offering. In this case, the report identifies two specific elements of the arrangement: the agreement’s duration and the ongoing fee.

Franchise agreements are to run for five years, with an option to renew. The ongoing franchise fee is 5% of net turnover. These are useful starting points for assessing the opportunity, but they are not enough to establish the total cost of opening and running a restaurant.

The material provided does not specify the initial investment, any upfront franchise fee or the detailed scope of support. Nor does it provide a basis for forecasting profitability. Prospective partners should therefore treat the published terms as a starting point for discussions, rather than a complete business plan.

Before making a decision, it is worth requesting a full breakdown of investment requirements, running costs and both parties’ obligations. The rules for renewing the five-year agreement also need clarification: the option to continue the relationship does not, on its own, explain the terms on which renewal will be available.

More US brands feature in expansion reports

Dave’s Hot Chicken’s plans form part of a wider set of reports about US restaurant brands’ interest in Poland. In an article published on 24 September and updated on 26 September 2026, Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita identified Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Wingstop as chains preparing to enter the Polish market.

The same article also mentioned Chipotle and Chick-fil-A, but in a different context: as brands being discussed within the industry as other chains looking at Poland. These indications should not be given the same weight as the specific restaurant numbers outlined for Dave’s Hot Chicken.

The distinction between interest in a market, preparations for a launch and a confirmed opening has practical significance. It allows readers to monitor competitors without attributing commitments to companies that have not announced them. The reports cited also do not provide enough information to calculate how much Poland’s overall restaurant market will grow or what share of sales the new brands might secure.

What to check before discussing a franchise

For someone looking to start a business, these developments call for two different approaches. In the case of Dave’s Hot Chicken, it is worth following further announcements about locations, timings and the model for expansion in Poland. The launch announcement alone offers no basis for assuming that an individual franchise will be available.

With NEAPOLSKA 2.0, discussions can already be based on the disclosed agreement terms. The fee of 5% of net turnover should be included in financial calculations alongside the restaurant’s other costs. It says nothing about a partner’s profit or the investment payback period.

Your own analysis should also consider a lower-sales scenario and the commitments involved in a five-year relationship. It is worth asking about termination terms, premises requirements and how responsibility for preparing the site is divided. These are points to verify, not features of the offering confirmed in the publications cited.

Practical takeaway: distinguish expansion plans from available franchise opportunities. Before making an investment decision, request the full documentation, a cost breakdown and the agreement terms — neither a recognisable brand nor an announced number of openings can replace that analysis.