Wingstop Inc.
Company History
Wingstop History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1994 in Garland, Texas, United States
When was Wingstop founded?
Wingstop was founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, United States by Antonio Swad, making it 32 years old.
- Founded
- 1994
- Founding place
- Garland, Texas, United States
- Founders
- Antonio Swad
- Headquarters today
- Addison, Texas, United States
- Milestones documented
- 13 (1994–2026)
- Current CEO
- Michael Skipworth
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1994 | First Wingstop opens |
| 1997 | First franchised restaurant |
| 2005 | Lunch service begins |
| 2009 | Boneless wings added |
| 2010 | Roark Capital acquires Wingstop |
| 2010 | First international restaurant |
| 2015 | Nasdaq IPO |
| 2018 | London entry |
| 2021 | Thighstop announced |
| 2022 | Michael Skipworth becomes CEO |
| 2024 | System-wide sales reach $4.8 billion |
| 2025 | Record openings and Smart Kitchen rollout |
| 2026 | Club Wingstop national launch |
- Where was Wingstop founded?
- Wingstop was founded in Garland, Texas, United States in 1994. en.wikipedia.org
- Who created Wingstop?
- Wingstop was founded by Antonio Swad.
- When did Wingstop start?
- Wingstop was founded in 1994.
- How old is Wingstop?
- Wingstop is 32 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Antonio Swad, who had earlier founded the Pizza Patrón chain, opened the first Wingstop in Garland, Texas in 1994. The concept used a 1930s and 1940s aviation theme and a short menu of wings in several sauces, fries and sides. Franchising followed in the late 1990s. Swad sold the business to Gemini Investors in 2003, and Roark Capital bought it in 2010. Charlie Morrison became CEO in 2012 and took the company public on Nasdaq in June 2015. Wingstop then pushed hard into online ordering, and digital channels now account for roughly seven in ten sales.
Founders
Antonio Swad
Antonio Swad is a Texas restaurateur who opened the first Wingstop in Garland, Texas in 1994. He gave the shop an aviation theme and a short, wing-focused menu, then began franchising it. He sold Wingstop to Gemini Investors in 2003. Antonio Swad was born in 1956.
Key Milestones
First franchised restaurant
The first franchised Wingstop location opens, three years after the original restaurant.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRoark Capital acquires Wingstop
Roark Capital buys Wingstop from Gemini Investors, which had owned it since 2003.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst international restaurant
Wingstop opens its first restaurant outside the United States, in Mexico.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgNasdaq IPO
Wingstop lists on Nasdaq under the ticker WING in June 2015, with Charlie Morrison as CEO.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLondon entry
Franchised Wingstop restaurants begin opening in London, United Kingdom.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThighstop announced
On June 21, 2021, Wingstop announces Thighstop, a digital-only restaurant selling chicken thighs.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMichael Skipworth becomes CEO
Charlie Morrison resigns to lead Salad and Go, and President and COO Michael Skipworth becomes CEO effective March 13, 2022.
Source: ir.wingstop.comSystem-wide sales reach $4.8 billion
Domestic same store sales rise 19.9%, revenue grows 36.0% to $625.8 million and the chain ends the year with 2,563 restaurants.
Source: ir.wingstop.comRecord openings and Smart Kitchen rollout
Wingstop opens 493 net new restaurants, passes 3,000 locations, enters six new international markets and installs Smart Kitchen in all 2,586 domestic restaurants.
Source: ir.wingstop.comClub Wingstop national launch
Wingstop launches its Club Wingstop loyalty program nationally during Q2 2026.
Source: ir.wingstop.comMajor Acquisitions
Two franchised restaurants
2017Wingstop bought two existing restaurants from a franchisee on July 16, 2017 for $3.9 million.
Two franchised restaurants
2023Wingstop bought two existing restaurants from a franchisee in the second fiscal quarter of 2023 for $4.4 million.
Three franchised restaurants
2025Wingstop bought three existing restaurants from a franchisee during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2025 for $9.2 million.
Keep researching Wingstop
Wingstop Company History FAQ
When and where was Wingstop founded?
Wingstop was founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, by entrepreneur Antonio Swad as an aviation-themed restaurant specializing in cooked-to-order Buffalo chicken wings.
When did Wingstop begin franchising its restaurant concept?
Wingstop began franchising in 1997, rapidly opening locations across Texas and the American South, reaching its 100th restaurant milestone by 2002.
How did Roark Capital acquire Wingstop in 2010?
Private equity firm Roark Capital Group acquired Wingstop from Gemini Investors in 2010, providing the capital and operational infrastructure needed for national expansion.
When did Wingstop go public on the stock exchange?
Wingstop completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol WING in June 2015, pricing above its expected range due to stellar franchisee profitability.
How many consecutive years of positive same-store sales has Wingstop achieved?
Wingstop has delivered an unprecedented streak of more than 20 consecutive years of positive domestic same-store sales growth, one of the longest continuous runs in restaurant history.
When did Michael Skipworth become CEO of Wingstop?
Michael Skipworth, who joined Wingstop in 2014 and served as CFO and COO, was appointed President and CEO in March 2022, succeeding long-tenured chief executive Charlie Morrison.
What was the significance of the 2022 chicken sandwich launch?
In August 2022, Wingstop launched its 12-flavor chicken sandwich line, which instantly drove record guest traffic, sold out nationwide within days, and permanently expanded lunchtime sales.
How many restaurant locations does Wingstop operate today?
Wingstop operates over 2,200 restaurant locations worldwide across the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, France, and Asia, with long-term plans to scale beyond 7,000 global units.
Related Strategic History
Compare founding milestones and corporate evolution
Explore Wingstop
Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.