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Thursday, Feb 26, 2026
Outside the box.
Chick-fil-A Surpasses $21.6 Billion in Sales with Innovative Drive-Thru Model
Chick-fil-A, a U.S. fast food giant known for its signature chicken sandwiches, leads the industry in sales per store, despite being closed on Sundays.
Chick-fil-A, a major U.S. fast food chain famous for its crispy chicken sandwiches, reached $21.6 billion in sales in 2023, making it one of the most successful brands in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector.
Despite its policy of being closed on Sundays, the company has achieved the highest sales per store in the U.S. fast food industry, with around 60% of its sales coming from drive-thru orders.
This model has become central to Chick-fil-A's success, and the company has invested heavily in optimizing its drive-thru service with cutting-edge technology and operational strategies.
One of the standout examples of Chick-fil-A’s innovation is a new restaurant in McDonough, Georgia, opened in August 2023. This location features four separate drive-thru lanes, allowing it to serve up to 700 cars per hour.
It also includes a second-story kitchen with a custom-built lift system to deliver food directly to the drive-thru lanes below, doubling the order processing capacity of a typical Chick-fil-A. This highly efficient design came at double the cost of a standard location.
The company’s success began in 1961 when founder S. Truett Cathy began experimenting with seasoning and breading techniques for chicken breast, using a high-pressure cooker for faster cooking.
The first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in 1967 in Atlanta, and the signature crispy chicken sandwich became an instant hit.
With the decline of malls, Chick-fil-A shifted its focus to drive-thru service, opening its first drive-thru location near Emory University in 1986. The first drive-thru-only location opened in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1993, and far exceeded sales expectations.
Chick-fil-A has addressed the challenges of long drive-thru lines, which sometimes spilled into neighboring streets, by positioning employees outside to take orders directly from cars using tablets.
The company has also provided weather-resistant workstations for outdoor employees, along with special uniforms designed to protect them from extreme weather.
Under the leadership of Andrew Cathy, the grandson of the founder, Chick-fil-A continues to prioritize innovation.
Despite a general slowdown in the fast food industry, with a 2.8% drop in customer traffic in 2023, Chick-fil-A’s focus on customer service and operational efficiency has allowed it to thrive.
Unlike other chains, Chick-fil-A maintains strong customer loyalty without relying on promotional discounts.
With its strong drive-thru performance, commitment to quality service, and consistent innovation, Chick-fil-A remains a leader in the U.S. fast food market.
The company’s success underscores the impact of operational efficiency and customer-focused strategies in driving business growth.
Despite its policy of being closed on Sundays, the company has achieved the highest sales per store in the U.S. fast food industry, with around 60% of its sales coming from drive-thru orders.
This model has become central to Chick-fil-A's success, and the company has invested heavily in optimizing its drive-thru service with cutting-edge technology and operational strategies.
One of the standout examples of Chick-fil-A’s innovation is a new restaurant in McDonough, Georgia, opened in August 2023. This location features four separate drive-thru lanes, allowing it to serve up to 700 cars per hour.
It also includes a second-story kitchen with a custom-built lift system to deliver food directly to the drive-thru lanes below, doubling the order processing capacity of a typical Chick-fil-A. This highly efficient design came at double the cost of a standard location.
The company’s success began in 1961 when founder S. Truett Cathy began experimenting with seasoning and breading techniques for chicken breast, using a high-pressure cooker for faster cooking.
The first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in 1967 in Atlanta, and the signature crispy chicken sandwich became an instant hit.
With the decline of malls, Chick-fil-A shifted its focus to drive-thru service, opening its first drive-thru location near Emory University in 1986. The first drive-thru-only location opened in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1993, and far exceeded sales expectations.
Chick-fil-A has addressed the challenges of long drive-thru lines, which sometimes spilled into neighboring streets, by positioning employees outside to take orders directly from cars using tablets.
The company has also provided weather-resistant workstations for outdoor employees, along with special uniforms designed to protect them from extreme weather.
Under the leadership of Andrew Cathy, the grandson of the founder, Chick-fil-A continues to prioritize innovation.
Despite a general slowdown in the fast food industry, with a 2.8% drop in customer traffic in 2023, Chick-fil-A’s focus on customer service and operational efficiency has allowed it to thrive.
Unlike other chains, Chick-fil-A maintains strong customer loyalty without relying on promotional discounts.
With its strong drive-thru performance, commitment to quality service, and consistent innovation, Chick-fil-A remains a leader in the U.S. fast food market.
The company’s success underscores the impact of operational efficiency and customer-focused strategies in driving business growth.
