When Jamaican teenager Jukie Chin first started Juici Patties, he couldn’t have imagined the international franchise it would one day become. Now, decades later, Juici Patties is the largest fast-food franchise in Jamaica, and its expansion into the United States is off to a spectacular start.
Jukie’s son, Daniel Chin, is the CEO of the company’s U.S. division, and he’s overseen the massive expansion effort since the beginning. By the end of 2025, Chin estimates that the brand will have 27 stores in operation along the East Coast and 37 more in the pipeline.
It might be surprising to learn that a niche Caribbean brand has achieved growth comparable to that of mainstream fast-food franchises. Some of that growth is rooted in the company’s data-forward approach. The brand relies on a number of tech tools to fuel expansion and help franchise owners succeed.
“The number one, I would say, is our franchise management software that we use to keep all the stores in order and organized,” says Stuart Levy, CTO of Juici Patties. “We use that to automate royalty collection and send out messages to the franchisees. It also houses key documents for each franchise, and it’s continuously being built out with different modules.”
“Right now, we’re adding an AI module that will give the franchisees assistance as they become more familiar with the system,” he continues. “It makes it easy to find key documents and answers in the system.”
Another useful tool is the brand’s proprietary mapping software. “Mapping software is also vital to how we expand,” says Levy. “It’s what we use to determine where we’re going to put a store and how many stores can fit in an area without cannibalizing each other.”
However, much of the brand’s success can also be attributed to community-driven demand, both online and in the real world.
“We didn’t know how social media played a huge part in our expansion at first,” Levy reflects. “You know, I remember starting the social media channel with our social media manager and growing it. And it’s all organic. We haven’t paid for followers. The 50 thousand followers on one of our accounts are completely organic.”
When Juici Patties diversified and opened accounts on other platforms, business grew even further. “So the moral of the story is whatever new social media platform comes online, get involved because you’re missing out on free marketing,” says Levy.
From the outside, the rapid expansion of Juici Patties might seem rushed. However, each decision is data-driven and deliberate. Perhaps more importantly, Juici Patties isn’t staying reliant on the same tech tools — the company is constantly innovating to provide a better experience for customers, employees, and franchisees alike.
The decision to open a new Juici Patties location might be made behind a computer screen, but the real-world impact is tangible. When diners flock to each restaurant to enjoy an old favorite or discover a new one, it’s a reminder of the unique power of food to bring people together.