Although Chick-fil-A is not available worldwide, the beloved American fast-food chain known for its chicken sandwiches, waffle fries and signature phrase “My Pleasure” remains one of the industry’s top restaurant chains.
Unlike many other global fast-food giants, Chick-fil-A has expanded its business with a slow, but deliberate, growth strategy. Since its founding in Hapeville, Georgia in 1946, the family-owned company has remained committed to its roots, including its famous policy of closing on Sundays, which reflects its emphasis on Southern hospitality and community values.
Chick-fil-A has long proven that bigger isn’t always better. Its steady expansion and consistently high customer satisfaction benefit from prioritizing quality and service.
For the 11th year in a row, Chick-fil-A has been named the top quick-service restaurant, earning a steady score of 83 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index 2025 Restaurant and Food Delivery Study.
Many might say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But Chick-fil-A is making a major strategic shift in its non-traditional restaurants, one that will reshape the company for years to come.
Chick-fil-A is converting its licensed locations, found on college campuses, hospitals, and theme parks (except airports), to its owner-operator model. Under this franchise system, operators run the restaurant, manage day-to-day operations, and share profits with the company, while Chick-fil-A owns the business assets.
The transition aims to create a more consistent experience at Chick-fil-A restaurants. It enables customers to use the chain’s technology solutions, including its app, membership program, and gift card redemption, benefits not currently available at licensed stores.
“At Chick-fil-A, our commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience is at the heart of everything we do,” Chick-fil-A said in a press release. “We are excited about this next chapter and believe that our locally owned business model will allow us to serve and care for our guests and extend Chick-fil-A’s great food and hospitality to more locations for many years to come.”
As of Dec. 31, 2024, Chick-fil-A operated approximately 3,109 domestic restaurants, including 2,684 company-owned and franchised locations, as well as 425 licensed stores, according to its franchise disclosure document.
Unsurprisingly, the chain has quietly shuttered locations as well, closing three mall units and 16 traditional restaurants by 2024. At the same time, it opened 132 new locations and 13 licensed stores.
Total restaurants: 3,109
Company Owned Restaurants: 55 Franchised Restaurants: 2,629 Licensed Restaurants: 425
Recently, Chick-fil-A has also pursued international expansion after years of operating exclusively in North America. In 2025, it opened its first two overseas restaurants, with one in Leeds, England, and another in Singapore set to debut in mid-December.
Although Chick-fil-A has positioned itself as a great success by staying true to its philosophy, some industry experts see limitations in its system.
“Chick-fil-A is undeniably one of the best fast-food concepts in the world,” Ryan Zink, founder and CEO of Franchise Sidekick, told Entrepreneur. “It has mastered the art of focus, quality and customer service. However, when it comes to franchise opportunities, it falls short due to lack of exit value and limited growth potential. While Chick-fil-A may be a dream come true for a lucky few, it does not match the aspirations of those seeking a scalable and long-term investment franchise.”
Chick-fil-A will generate more than $9 billion in total revenue in 2024, up nearly 14% from the previous year, and reach $22.7 billion in system-wide sales, a year-over-year increase.
These results rank the chain among the top three restaurant brands in the U.S. based on domestic system-wide sales. McDonald’s ( MCD ) leads the way with $53.5 billion in 2024, followed by Starbucks ( SBUX ) at $30.4 billion.
However, it’s important to note that both companies operate more U.S. locations than Chick-fil-A. By the end of 2024, McDonald’s reported 13,559 restaurants and Starbucks 16,935.
If it sounds like fast-food prices have gone up in recent years, it’s because they have, and there’s data to back up this claim.
From 2014 to 2024, menu prices in the region will increase between 39% and 100%, according to Finance Buzz, outpacing the national inflation rate of 33% over the same period.
Chick-fil-A prices have more than doubled since 2014, Starbucks prices have risen nearly 40% and McDonald’s prices have risen by 100%.
“This poses a significant challenge for restaurants, as home-cooked food directly replaces demand from dining establishments, translating into lower revenue and a decline in customer traffic,” said Coresite Research analyst Sujit Naik.
More Chick-fil-A:
However, these fast-food chains remain profitable by developing innovative products and constantly evolving their operating models to meet consumer demands.
“In response to a shrinking food dollar and a strong consumer base, restaurants are turning to innovative business and operating models to capture greater market share,” KPMG restaurant segment leader Paul Fultz and consumer markets strategy leader Joel Rumpold said in a study.
Related: Popular pub chain closes all locations without notice
This story was originally published by TheStreet on December 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the Restaurants section. Add TheStreet as a preferred source by clicking here.
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