Shaquille O'Neal Used an Unconventional Strategy to Start His Chicken Restaurant — Here's Why It Worked The NBA Hall of Famer leveraged his 35 million Instagram followers to build buzz around Big Chicken before it even launched.
By Shawn P. Walchef Edited by Jessica Thomas
Key Takeaways
- NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal channels his winning spirit into the entrepreneurial field with his extensive portfolio of business ventures, including his brand Big Chicken.
- Using O'Neal's mother's recipes, Big Chicken stays true to its family roots.
- O'Neal leverages his massive social media presence for cost-effective marketing, balancing humor with inspiration and business on his platforms.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
After a prolific 20-year NBA career that also saw him release platinum-selling music and star in box office smash movies, Shaquille O'Neal has turned his championship mentality and larger-than-life persona to his entrepreneurial portfolio. The basketball star's extensive business holdings include Big Chicken, a fast-casual chicken concept that reflects his love for bold flavors and big portions.
The brand has more than 350 locations in development across 19 states and two countries and is even on four Carnival cruise ships. Big Chicken can also be found in arenas, airports and stadium venues.
Even as it has expanded, Big Chicken remains true to its family roots.
"It was my mother's creation," O'Neal says of the genesis of Big Chicken. "So, we brought her [Lucille O'Neal] down, and she worked with the executive chefs on how the macaroni should taste, how the chicken should be battered, and everybody was receptive to that."
Lucille's Mac N' Cheese is now a popular menu item, along with the namesake Big Chicken sandwiches, chicken "Dunks," ice cream and more.
Related: This Chicago Native Wants to Build the In-N-Out of Tacos
Leading a champion team
For O'Neal, the Big Chicken brand's success isn't just about making money; it's about creating a championship team that fosters community and provides memorable experiences for everyone involved.
"When you're raised by a drill sergeant and raised by discipline, you always go with the flow, and you always attack your dreams," O'Neal says.
When launching Big Chicken, O'Neal took a unique approach to marketing by building the brand in public.
He leveraged the power of free promotion — and his already massive popularity — through the Big Chicken Shaq Show on Facebook Watch and across his social media accounts. On Instagram alone, O'Neal entertains an audience of more than 35 million followers.
His philosophy is simple: You don't need a massive budget to get the word out. Using tools like free social media accounts and grassroots marketing efforts, he showed how any brand can gain visibility without breaking the bank.
"All it takes is once," he says, highlighting how valuable word-of-mouth marketing can be to Restaurant Influencers host Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media.
O'Neal's strategy for connecting with his online audience mirrors this overall ethos. The entrepreneur uses his platforms to entertain, inspire and inform people about his latest ventures. "Sixty percent of my posts are to make you laugh, 30% to inspire you and 10% to show what I'm involved in," he says.
This balance reflects O'Neal's larger mission of bringing light into people's lives through food or entertainment. "I want to laugh because when you laugh, it releases those endorphins in the face and helps you relieve stress," he says. "I understand that. I realize that. I want to make people laugh."
Related: The 'Billionaire Chef' Wants To Bring West African Cuisine to the World — Here's How
Growing Big Chicken
Having already enjoyed an unimaginable amount of success in his career, O'Neal understands the importance of selflessness and teamwork. His message to potential partners is clear: By joining Big Chicken, you're not just opening a successful restaurant. You're joining a winning team to create something truly special.
Though it's relatively new to the franchising space, Big Chicken is owned by a trio of industry titans, including O'Neal, Authentic Brands Group and JRS Hospitality.
"I'm not in this to become a trillionaire," O'Neal says, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and growth. "I hope the people want to grow with us. They want to help us win championships because there's no other concept like this."
About Restaurant Influencers
Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point-of-sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.
Toast — Powering Successful Restaurants. Learn more about Toast.
Restaurant Influencers is also supported by Walmart Business. Learn more about how you can conveniently access everything you need for your business from Walmart Business. It's the Walmart you love, now for your business.
