Although Chick-fil-A is not available worldwide, the beloved American fast-food chain known for its chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and the signature phrase “my pleasure” has grown into one of the best restaurant chains in the industry.
Unlike many other global fast-food giants, Chick-fil-A expanded its business with a slower, but deliberate growth strategy. Since its founding in 1946 in Hapeville, Georgia, the family-owned company has remained committed to its roots, including its well-known Sunday-closed policy, which reflects its emphasis on Southern hospitality and community values.
Chick-fil-A has been proving that bigger is not always better. Its constant expansion and consistently high customer satisfaction show that prioritizing quality and service pays off.
For the 11th year in a row, Chick-fil-A has again been named the best quick-service restaurant, earning a consistent score of 83 in the 2025 American Customer Satisfaction 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, located on college campuses, hospitals, and theme parks (excluding airports), to its owner-operator model. Under this franchise system, the operators run the restaurant, manage the day-to-day operations, and share the profits with the company, while Chick-fil-A retains ownership of the business assets.
This transition aims to create a more consistent experience across Chick-fil-A restaurants. It will also allow customers to utilize the chain’s technology solutions, including its app, membership program, and gift card redemption, benefits not currently available in licensed stores.
“At Chick-fil-A, our commitment to delivering 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 guests and expand Chick-fil-A’s great food and hospitality to more locations, for many years to come.”
Chick-fil-A is converting 425 of its licensed locations to an owner-operator model. Shutterstock” loading=”eager” height=”540″ width=”960″ class=”yf-1gfnohs loader”/>
Chick-fil-A is converting 425 of its licensed locations to an owner-operator model. Shutterstock
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.
Surprisingly, the chain has been quietly closing locations as well, closing three mall units and 16 traditional restaurants in 2024. At the same time, it opened 132 new locations and 13 licensed shops.
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, including one in Leeds, England, and another will debut in mid-December in Singapore.
Although Chick-fil-A has positioned itself as a standout success by staying true to its philosophy, some industry experts see limitations in its system.
“Chick-fil-A arguably boasts one of the best fast-food concepts in the world,” Franchise Sidekick Founder and CEO Ryan Zink 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 its lack of exit value and limited growth potential. While Chick-fil-A may be a dream come true for some fortunate individuals, it may not align with the aspirations of those looking for scalable, long-term franchise investments.”
Chick-fil-A generated more than $9 billion in total revenue in 2024, an increase of nearly 14% from the previous year, and reached $22.7 billion in system-wide sales, which has been steadily increasing year after year.
These results place the chain among the top three restaurant brands in the United States based on domestic sales in the entire system. McDonald’s ( MCD ) leads the way with $53.5 billion in 2024, followed by Starbucks ( SBUX ) at $30.4 billion.
However, it is important to note that both companies operate many more locations in the United States than Chick-fil-A. At the end of 2024, McDonald’s reported 13,559 restaurants, and Starbucks had 16,935.
If you feel like fast-food prices have gone up in recent years, it’s because they have, and there’s data to back this claim up.
From 2014 to 2024, menu prices in the sector increased between 39% and 100%, exceeding the national inflation rate of 33% during the same period, according to Finance Buzz.
Chick-fil-A’s prices have more than doubled since 2014, Starbucks prices have increased by nearly 40% and McDonald’s prices have increased by 100%.
“This poses a significant challenge for restaurants, as home-cooked meals directly replace demand for dining establishments, which translates into reduced revenue and reduced customer traffic,” said Coresight Research analyst Sujeet Naik.
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However, these fast-food chains have remained profitable by developing innovative products and constantly evolving their operating models to meet consumer demands.
“In response to the declining dining dollar and the empowered customer, 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 Rampoldt said in a study.
Related: Popular pub chain to close 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.
