50 Super Interesting Facts About Chick-fil-A (& Why does Chick-fil-A close on Sunday?)

1. Chick-fil-A invented the chicken sandwich in 1964 when founder S. Truett Cathy split, breaded, and fried a chicken breast and put it on a bun with two pickles.
2. The name Chick-fil-A is a play on the word “filet” and also means “Grade A” quality chicken.
3. Chick-fil-A is the largest purchaser of Sunkist lemons in the world, using more than 250 million lemons per year to make its lemonade.
4. Chick-fil-A is also the largest buyer of peanut oil in the country, using about 25 million gallons per year to fry its chicken.
5. Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries are its most popular menu item, followed by the original chicken sandwich and nuggets.
6. Chick-fil-A has a secret menu that includes items such as chicken quesadillas, buffalo chicken sandwiches, and root beer floats.
7. Chick-fil-A’s cows are its mascots and have been featured in its advertising campaigns since 1995 with the slogan “Eat Mor Chikin”.
8. Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays, a tradition that dates back to Cathy’s religious beliefs and his desire to give his employees a day of rest.
9. Chick-fil-A has a loyalty program called Chick-fil-A One that rewards customers with free food and other perks for using its app or scanning their QR code at the register.
10. Chick-fil-A has a scholarship program called Remarkable Futures that awards $19 million to more than 7,500 team members each year for their education.
11. Chick-fil-A has a charitable foundation called Chick-fil-A Foundation that supports causes such as youth education, leadership development, and hunger relief.
12. Chick-fil-A has a corporate culture based on its core values of customer service, excellence, integrity, stewardship, and loyalty.
13. Chick-fil-A has a leadership program called SERVE that stands for See and shape the future, Engage and develop others, Reinvent continuously, Value results and relationships, and Embody the values.
14. Chick-fil-A has a training program called Certified Trainer that equips team members with the skills and knowledge to train new hires and provide feedback and coaching.
15. Chick-fil-A has a quality program called Food Safety Leadership Council that ensures high standards of food safety and quality across its supply chain and restaurants.
16. Chick-fil-A has a diversity program called Belonging at Chick-fil-A that fosters an inclusive and respectful workplace for all team members and customers.
17. Chick-fil-A has a sustainability program called Environmental Stewardship that focuses on reducing its environmental impact through energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and recycling.
18. Chick-fil-A has a health and wellness program called Thrive that offers team members access to health benefits, wellness resources, fitness classes, and counseling services.
19. Chick-fil-A has a family program called Family Care that provides team members with paid parental leave, adoption assistance, childcare discounts, and family events.
20. Chick-fil-A has a community program called Community Connections that encourages team members to volunteer and support local causes and organizations.
21. Chick-fil-A has a museum called Truett’s Luau that showcases the history and culture of the company and its founder.
22. Chick-fil-A has a theme park called The Rock Ranch that features attractions such as zip lines, corn mazes, and a locomotive train.
23. Chick-fil-A has a college football bowl game called the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl that is part of the College Football Playoff system.
24. Chick-fil-A has a college basketball tournament called the Chick-fil-A Classic that features some of the top high school teams in the nation.
25. Chick-fil-A has a marathon called the Chick-fil-A Half Marathon that takes place in Atlanta every year and benefits various charities.
26. Chick-fil-A has a fan club called the Cow Appreciation Day that rewards customers who dress up like cows with free food on July 13th every year.
27. Chick-fil-A has a breakfast giveaway called the First 100 that gives free breakfast for a year to the first 100 customers who camp out at a new restaurant opening.
28. Chick-fil-A has a calendar called the Cow Calendar that features humorous cow-themed illustrations and coupons for each month of the year.
29. Chick-fil-A has a book series called The Adventures of Cow and Chicken that features stories and activities for children based on its mascots.
30. Chick-fil-A has a podcast called The Chicken Wire that features interviews and stories about its team members, customers, and community partners.
31. Chick-fil-A has a sauce called Chick-fil-A Sauce that is a blend of honey mustard, barbecue, and ranch sauces and is one of its most popular condiments.
32. Chick-fil-A has a salad dressing called Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing that is made with fresh avocados, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and sour cream and is one of its most popular dressings.
33. Chick-fil-A has a soup called Chicken Tortilla Soup that is made with shredded chicken breast, navy beans, corn, tomatoes, green chilies, and spices and is one of its most popular soups.
34. Chick-fil-A has a dessert called Frosted Lemonade that is made with lemonade and vanilla ice cream and is one of its most popular desserts.
35. Chick-fil-A has a seasonal item called Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake that is made with peppermint bark and chocolate chips blended with vanilla ice cream and is available only during the holidays.
36. Chick-fil-A has a special item called Spicy Chicken Sandwich Deluxe that is made with a spicy chicken breast topped with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickles and is available only at select locations.
37. Chick-fil-A has a vegan option called Kale Crunch Side that is made with kale and cabbage tossed in an apple cider vinegar dressing and topped with roasted almonds and is available at all locations.
38. Chick-fil-A has a gluten-free option called Grilled Chicken Nuggets that are made with grilled chicken breast pieces marinated in a special blend of seasonings and are available at all locations.
39. Chick-fil-A has a low-carb option called Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich that is made with grilled chicken breast, Colby-Jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and honey roasted barbecue sauce wrapped in green leaf lettuce instead of a bun and is available at all locations.
40. Chick-fil-A has a high-protein option called Grilled Market Salad that is made with grilled chicken breast, romaine lettuce, baby greens, red cabbage, carrots, blue cheese crumbles, apples, strawberries, blueberries, granola, and roasted nuts tossed in an apple cider vinegar dressing and is available at all locations
41. Chick-fil-A has a trademark on the phrase “We Didn’t Invent the Chicken, Just the Chicken Sandwich” that it registered in 1995.
42. Chick-fil-A has a patent on its hand-spun milkshake process that it developed in 2004.
43. Chick-fil-A has a record for the most drive-thru transactions in an hour, with 178 cars served at a restaurant in Texas in 2016.
44. Chick-fil-A has a rivalry with Popeyes over their chicken sandwiches, which sparked a social media war and a nationwide craze in 2019.
45. Chick-fil-A has a controversy over its stance on same-sex marriage, which led to protests and boycotts from LGBTQ+ activists and supporters in 2012.
46. Chick-fil-A has a reputation for being one of the most polite and courteous fast food chains in the country, according to various surveys and rankings.
47. Chick-fil-A has a recognition for being one of the most beloved and trusted fast food brands in the country, according to various surveys and rankings.
48. Chick-fil-A has a vision to be “a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A” .
49. Chick-fil-A has a mission to “be America’s best quick-service restaurant at winning and keeping customers” .
50. Chick-fil-A has a purpose to “glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A” .

Why does Chick-fil-A close on Sunday?

Chick-fil-A closes on Sundays because of its founder’s Christian faith and his desire to give his employees a day of rest and a chance to spend time with their families and attend church services. This policy has been in place since 1946, when the first restaurant opened, and has been upheld by the founder’s children and grandchildren who run the company today. Closing on Sundays also helps Chick-fil-A to maximize its profits, as it creates a sense of scarcity and urgency among customers who want to enjoy its food on the other six days of the week. Chick-fil-A believes that closing on Sundays is a way of honoring God and showing loyalty to Him.

Why Is Chick-fil-A So Popular?

Chick-fil-A is popular for many reasons, but here are 10 of them:

1. Chick-fil-A invented the chicken sandwich and has a secret recipe for its breaded chicken that gives it a unique and delicious taste.
2. Chick-fil-A serves quality food made with fresh ingredients, such as hand-cut waffle fries, hand-spun milkshakes, and hand-squeezed lemonade.
3. Chick-fil-A provides excellent customer service with friendly and courteous staff, fast and accurate orders, and a clean and comfortable dining environment.
4. Chick-fil-A has a loyal fan base that appreciates its values, culture, and community involvement, as well as its food and service.
5. Chick-fil-A has a scarcity factor that makes customers crave its food more, as it is closed on Sundays and has limited locations compared to other fast food chains.
6. Chick-fil-A has a variety of menu options that cater to different tastes and preferences, such as salads, wraps, nuggets, strips, soups, desserts, and breakfast items.
7. Chick-fil-A has a fun and playful brand image that features its cow mascots and catchy slogans, such as “Eat Mor Chikin” and “We Didn’t Invent the Chicken, Just the Chicken Sandwich” .
8. Chick-fil-A has a strong social media presence that engages with customers and showcases its products, promotions, and stories.
9. Chick-fil-A has a competitive edge over other fast food chains that offer chicken sandwiches, such as Popeyes and McDonald’s, as it has a loyal following and a consistent quality.
10. Chick-fil-A has a high customer satisfaction rating that reflects its popularity among consumers, as it has topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index for eight consecutive years.

What is Chick-fil-A’s Revenue?

According to Statista, Chick-fil-A’s revenue in 2021 was 5.8 billion U.S. dollars worldwide, an increase of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars from 2020. Its net earnings in 2021 were 1.24 million U.S. dollars worldwide. It is a privately held company and its annual revenues are over 500 million U.S. dollars. Its revenue per employee ratio is $317,647.