Chick-fil-A is America’s favorite restaurant for the ninth consecutive year. It again ranked No. 1 in this year’s American Customer Satisfaction Index, which surveys the attitudes of Americans toward major restaurants.
Chick-fil-A received a total score of 85, a slight increase from last year and just ahead of Jimmy John’s, which received a score of 84. Rounding out the top five among fast-food restaurants were KFC (81), Papa John’s (80) and four restaurants that tied for fifth place with scores of 78: Domino’s, Five Guys, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. McDonald’s (69) finished last.
The rankings for the quality of its food have apparently not been affected by its move to support what some customers labeled “woke” culture policies.
“Chick-fil-A leads the industry — and all restaurants — for the ninth straight year after climbing 2 percent to an ACSI score of 85,” according to a news release about the survey. “The popular chain continues to set the standard with its exceptional combination of food, service and technological quality.”
Chick-fil-A’s 2023 score also was higher than the No. 1 restaurant (Outback Steakhouse, 83) in the full-service restaurant industry.
“This year, we’re seeing customer satisfaction returning to pre-pandemic levels for full-service dining, while fast-food outlets have rebounded to within a point of their 2019 score,” said Forrest Morgeson, assistant professor of marketing at Michigan State University. “This good news is tempered, though, by increasing inflationary pressures, which are already slowing traffic. Sooner rather than later, the industry is going to feel the pinch, and price competition and value will matter.”
Chick-fil-A claimed the top spot in annual surveys despite being closed on Sundays. Its website says its founder, S. Truett Cathy, “made the decision to close on Sundays in 1946 when he opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Ga. Having worked seven days a week in restaurants open 24 hours, Truett saw the importance of closing on Sundays so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest or worship if they choose, a practice we uphold today.”
Chick-fil-A’s corporate purpose is 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 in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
