Chick-fil-A facts for kids
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A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Morristown, Tennessee
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Formerly
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| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | |
| Founder | S. Truett Cathy |
| Headquarters | 5200 Buffington Road Atlanta, Georgia 30349 |
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Number of locations
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3,228 |
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Area served
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Key people
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| Products | Chicken sandwiches, chicken dishes |
| Revenue |  US$21.6 billion (2023) |
| Owner | Cathy family |
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Number of employees
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35,574 as of August 2021[update] |
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a popular American fast-food chain. It is famous for its chicken sandwiches. The company's name sounds like "chicken filet."
Chick-fil-A has restaurants in 48 states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. It also has locations in Canada, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The company used to have restaurants in South Africa too.
A special thing about Chick-fil-A is that all its restaurants are closed on Sundays. They also close on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This tradition comes from the Christian beliefs of its founder, S. Truett Cathy.
The company's values have sometimes led to public discussions. For example, its past views on certain social issues caused some controversy. However, Chick-fil-A has changed its approach since 2019. Despite these challenges, many people still love Chick-fil-A. In fact, it has been named America's favorite fast-food chain for many years. It also makes more money per restaurant than any other fast-food chain in the country.
Contents
- The Story of Chick-fil-A
- How Chick-fil-A Operates
- Company Money Matters
- Company Culture and Values
- Chick-fil-A Around the World
- Future Locations
- Advertising Campaigns
- Sponsored Events
- Public Discussions and Company Changes
- Other Restaurants by the Founder's Family
- Images for kids
- Company Leaders
- Menu Items
- See also
The Story of Chick-fil-A
The story of Chick-fil-A began in 1946. That's when S. Truett Cathy opened a restaurant called the Dwarf Grill. It was in Hapeville, Georgia, near an old Ford car factory. Many factory workers became regular customers. This original restaurant was later updated and reopened in 2022.
In 1961, after 15 years in the restaurant business, Cathy found a special pressure fryer. This fryer could cook a chicken sandwich as fast as a hamburger. This discovery led him to create the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. He then registered the name Chick-fil-A, Inc.
The company's slogan is "We Didn't Invent the Chicken, Just the Chicken Sandwich." This refers to their main menu item. While Chick-fil-A was the first national chain to focus on a fast, fried chicken sandwich, Cathy was not the first to invent a chicken sandwich overall.
From 1964 to 1967, other restaurants could sell the Chick-fil-A sandwich. This included places like Waffle House and even the Houston Astrodome. But in 1967, the first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in a mall food court in Atlanta. After that, the sandwich was only sold at Chick-fil-A locations.
The chain grew a lot in the 1970s and early 1980s. They opened many new restaurants in mall food courts. Then, in 1986, the first stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in Atlanta. The company then started to focus more on these separate restaurants. Most new Chick-fil-A locations are still in suburban areas, especially in the Southern U.S.
Since 1997, Chick-fil-A has sponsored the Peach Bowl. This is a big college football game played every New Year's Eve in Atlanta. They also support other college sports conferences.
In 2008, Chick-fil-A was one of the first fast-food places to remove trans fats from its food.
In October 2015, Chick-fil-A opened its largest restaurant. It was a three-story building in Manhattan, New York.
Chick-fil-A usually closes on Sundays. But sometimes, they make exceptions for important reasons. For example, on December 17, 2017, they opened on a Sunday. They prepared meals for passengers stuck at Atlanta's airport during a power outage. Also, on January 13, 2019, a Chick-fil-A in Mobile, Alabama, opened on a Sunday. They did this to celebrate the birthday of a 14-year-old boy with special needs.
In February 2023, Chick-fil-A started offering its first non-meat sandwich. It was a breaded cauliflower sandwich.
In May 2023, the original Chick-fil-A location in Greenbriar Mall closed. The company did not say why.
How Chick-fil-A Operates
Chick-fil-A's business plan focuses on a small menu and great customer service. While many fast-food chains offer many different dishes, Chick-fil-A mainly sells chicken sandwiches. The "A" in Chick-fil-A means their chicken is "grade A top quality." The company's focus on good customer service has helped it grow a lot in the United States.
Chick-fil-A builds and owns its restaurants. People who want to open a Chick-fil-A restaurant (franchisees) need to invest $10,000. These franchisees are carefully chosen and trained. This process can take several months.
In 2022, each Chick-fil-A restaurant made an average of $6.71 million. This was the highest sales per restaurant among all U.S. fast-food chains. This is impressive because they are only open six days a week.
In 2019, Chick-fil-A made $11.3 billion in sales in the U.S. Only McDonald's had higher sales that year.
To compete with Chick-fil-A, other fried chicken chains started selling their own chicken sandwiches in 2019. This trend became known as the "Chicken Sandwich Wars."
Selling Sauces in Stores
In spring 2020, Chick-fil-A started selling two of its dipping sauces in some Florida supermarkets. All the money made from these sales went to a scholarship fund for their employees. This test was successful. By 2021, the sauces were sold nationwide. Two more sauces were added in 2023.
In October 2022, the company also started selling its salad dressings in some areas. By spring 2023, these dressings were available nationwide.
In January 2025, Chick-fil-A announced a plan to make its lemonade in one large, automated factory in California. This new factory can process huge amounts of lemons every day.
Company Money Matters
In 2024, Chick-fil-A reported $22 billion in sales across all its restaurants. This made it one of the top three restaurant chains in the U.S. by sales. McDonald's and Starbucks were the other two. Chick-fil-A achieved this with fewer locations than McDonald's. Each Chick-fil-A restaurant made an average of $7.5 million, which was the highest among major U.S. fast-food chains.
Company Culture and Values
S. Truett Cathy, the founder, was a very religious person. His beliefs greatly influenced the company. Chick-fil-A's official goal is "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A." Cathy did not want the company to be publicly owned.
A company spokesperson said in 2012 that Chick-fil-A treats everyone with "honor, dignity, and respect." This applies to all people, no matter their beliefs or background.
Closed on Sundays
All Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. This is because the founder believed in honoring Sunday as a day of rest. Cathy said closing on Sunday was "our way of honoring God."
Truett's son, Dan T. Cathy, explained that his father was often tired by Sunday. Also, Sundays were not busy days for sales back then. So, they closed that first Sunday and have continued the tradition ever since. Even Chick-fil-A locations at sports stadiums close on Sundays, even if games are played.
Busy Drive-Throughs
Chick-fil-A's drive-throughs are very popular in the United States. This has sometimes caused traffic problems. Police have even been called, and nearby businesses have complained. The long lines can block emergency vehicles and city buses. They can also increase the risk of accidents.
In 2025, the company reported that about 60% of its sales came from drive-through customers.
Chicken Without Antibiotics
In February 2014, Chick-fil-A promised to serve chicken raised without antibiotics within five years. They were the first fast-food restaurant to make this promise. They achieved this by May 2019. However, the company later changed its policy. Starting in spring 2024, they shifted to using chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine. This change was made to ensure they could keep getting enough high-quality chicken.
Removing Certain Ingredients
In 2011, a food blogger pointed out that Chick-fil-A sandwiches had many ingredients. Some included preservatives and artificial colors. In 2012, Chick-fil-A invited the blogger to meet with company leaders. By December 2013, Chick-fil-A announced they were removing high-fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes. They also started testing a new type of peanut oil.
Cage-Free Eggs
In 2016, Chick-fil-A promised to use only cage-free eggs by 2026. However, in 2025, the company changed this commitment. They said there were challenges like bird flu and issues with egg suppliers.
Chick-fil-A Around the World
Canada
In September 1994, Chick-fil-A opened its first location outside the U.S. It was in a student food court at the University of Alberta in Canada. This location closed after a few years. Another Canadian location opened at the Calgary International Airport in 2014 but closed in 2019.
Chick-fil-A opened a restaurant in Toronto, Ontario, on September 6, 2019. There were some protests about the company's past views. Chick-fil-A then announced plans for more stores in the Toronto area. A second Toronto location opened in January 2020.
The company expanded to other parts of Ontario in 2021. They opened stand-alone restaurants with drive-throughs in Kitchener and Windsor.
In 2024, Chick-fil-A opened new locations in Alberta. One was in the West Edmonton Mall, and another in Calgary.
In 2025, hundreds of customers lined up very early in the morning for a new Chick-fil-A in Cambridge, Ontario, despite cold weather.
United Kingdom
A Chick-fil-A operated in Edinburgh, Scotland, in spring 2018. On October 10, 2019, Chick-fil-A opened a store in Reading, UK. This store closed in March 2020. The shopping center decided not to continue the lease because of ongoing protests about the chain's past views.
Another Chick-fil-A opened in Aviemore, Scotland, in February 2019 for a 12-month trial. This store also closed in January 2020 due to protests. Chick-fil-A said it was always planned as a short-term stay.
Later, the company made some changes. In 2020, they hired their first head of diversity. They also focused their charity work on education and helping people who are hungry. In September 2023, Chick-fil-A announced plans to open five new restaurants in the UK starting in early 2025. They plan to invest over $100 million in the UK over the next ten years.
Chick-fil-A opened its first full UK restaurant in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, in January 2025. A second one opened in Templepatrick, Northern Ireland, in February 2025.
Puerto Rico
Chick-fil-A opened its first location in Puerto Rico in 2022. By 2024, they had seven restaurants there. They plan to have up to 25 locations by 2030. The menu in Puerto Rico includes coffee grown and roasted locally.
Expansion to Asia and Europe
In March 2023, Chick-fil-A's CEO, Andrew Cathy, announced plans to open restaurants in Asia and Europe by 2026. They aim to expand to five new overseas markets by 2030. The company is looking for countries with strong economies, many people, and a demand for chicken.
Singapore
Chick-fil-A had a temporary restaurant (pop-up) in Singapore for three days in June 2024. This was the first time Chick-fil-A had a pop-up in Asia. On October 17, 2024, Chick-fil-A officially announced it would open in Singapore in late 2025. This will be the first Asian country to have a permanent Chick-fil-A restaurant.
Future Locations
In July 2018, Chick-fil-A announced it would open its first location in Hawaii in early 2022. More locations in Honolulu and Kapolei were planned to follow. The first Puerto Rican location opened on March 3, 2022, in Bayamón.
Advertising Campaigns
"Eat Mor Chikin" is Chick-fil-A's most famous advertising slogan. It was created in 1995. This slogan often appears in ads with Holstein dairy cows. The cows usually hold signs that say "Eat Mor Chikin" in big letters.
This ad campaign was stopped for a short time in 2004 during a "mad cow disease" scare. This was to avoid seeming insensitive. But two months later, the cows were back. Before the cows, Chick-fil-A's mascot was Doodles, a cartoon chicken. Doodles still appears as the "C" in the company's logo.
Chick-fil-A works hard to protect its brand. They have sent letters to people who use phrases similar to "Eat More Chikin." They say this could confuse people or make their brand less special.
For example, in 2011, Chick-fil-A sent a letter to a Vermont artist. He made T-shirts that said "Eat More Kale." Chick-fil-A asked him to stop. This caused a lot of discussion. The governor of Vermont even spoke out against Chick-fil-A. On December 11, 2014, the artist won his case. He was allowed to trademark his "Eat More Kale" phrase.
In 2016, Chick-fil-A changed its advertising agency. Along with the cows, new ads featured famous historical people. The campaign was called "Chicken for Breakfast. It's not as crazy as you think."
Sponsored Events
Chick-fil-A sponsors several sports events:
- Chick-fil-A Classic: This is a high school basketball tournament in Columbia, South Carolina. It features top players and teams. The tournament helps provide scholarships for high school students.
- Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: This is a major college football game. It is played every year in Atlanta, Georgia. It was first known as the Peach Bowl and was renamed in 2014.
- Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game: This is an annual college football game played early in the season. It takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Two highly ranked teams play, usually including one from the Southeastern Conference. Since July 2023, an insurance company called Aflac has been the new sponsor of this game.
Public Discussions and Company Changes
Chick-fil-A has faced public discussions about its values. In the past, the company's charitable foundation, WinShape Foundation, donated money to groups that held traditional views on marriage. This led to protests and calls for boycotts from some groups.
In June and July 2012, Chick-fil-A's chief operating officer, Dan T. Cathy, made public statements about marriage. Some politicians reacted by saying they would try to stop Chick-fil-A from opening new restaurants in their cities. However, some legal experts and groups like the American Civil Liberties Union criticized these proposed bans.
A company that made toys for Chick-fil-A's kids' meals decided to stop working with them. They donated their payment to a group that supports LGBTQ+ rights. Chick-fil-A said they stopped distributing the toys due to unrelated safety concerns. On July 31, 2012, Chick-fil-A released a statement. They said they are a restaurant company focused on food and service. They wanted to leave policy debates to the government.
In response to the controversy, some people organized a "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." Many stores reported record numbers of customers that day. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration also told cities they could not stop Chick-fil-A from opening in airports. They said federal rules prevent excluding businesses based on religious beliefs.
In April 2018, reports showed Chick-fil-A was still donating to a group that opposed certain marriage views. However, in a November 2019 interview, Chick-fil-A president Tim Tassopoulos said the company would stop donating to The Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Other Restaurants by the Founder's Family
The Cathy family, who founded Chick-fil-A, also runs other types of restaurants.
Hapeville Dwarf House
Truett Cathy opened his very first restaurant, the Dwarf Grill, in 1946. It was later renamed the Dwarf House. This is where he created the famous pressure-cooked chicken breast sandwich. The original Dwarf House in Hapeville, Georgia, has a unique feature: a very small front door, in addition to the regular-sized entrances.
This original Dwarf House is open 24 hours a day, six days a week. It closes only on Sundays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. It has a larger menu than other Dwarf House locations. There's also a fun display with seven animated dwarfs inside.
Dwarf House Locations
Opened in 1986, these restaurants offer a full menu and table service. Customers can also order at a counter or use a drive-thru. There are five of these original Dwarf House restaurants still open in the Atlanta area.
Truett's Grill
The first Truett's Grill opened in 1996. These restaurants are owned independently. They offer traditional sit-down dining and a bigger menu in a diner-style setting. In 2017, some Dwarf House locations were replaced with Truett's Grill restaurants.
Truett's Chick-fil-A
Truett's Chick-fil-A restaurants are designed to honor the founder, S. Truett Cathy. They are decorated with family photos and his favorite quotes. These restaurants offer drive-thru, counter, and sit-down service for all meals.
Truett's Luau
Truett Cathy visited Hawaii and loved it. When he was 92, he opened Truett's Luau in Fayetteville, Georgia, in 2013. The menu combines island favorites with Southern U.S. flavors. It offers sit-down, counter, and drive-thru service.
Images for kids
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Chick-fil-a Dwarf House entrance, Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia
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Truett's Grill, 1455 N Express Way, Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia
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Chick-fil-a Dwarf House, Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia
Company Leaders
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The Cathy family has been in charge of Chick-fil-A since it started in 1946. As of 2025, the third generation of the Cathy family is leading the company.
Chairmen of Chick-fil-A
- S. Truett Cathy (1946–2013)
- Dan Cathy (2013–present)
Chief Executives of Chick-fil-A
- S. Truett Cathy (1946–2013)
- Dan Cathy (2013–2021)
- Andrew T. Cathy (2021–present)
Presidents of Chick-fil-A
- Jimmy Collins (1968–2001)
- Tim Tassopoulos (2016–2023)
- Susannah Frost (2024–present)
Menu Items
In 2018, the most popular item ordered at Chick-fil-A was the waffle fries. After that came soft drinks, chicken nuggets, and the original chicken sandwich. You can find all menu items and nutrition information on Chick-fil-A's website.
See also
In Spanish: Chick-fil-A para niños
- List of chicken restaurants
