Chick-fil-A is envy of fast-food industry over these sales numbers

Chick-fil-A continues to record impressive sales numbers despite being closed on Sunday. It generated more than $21 billion in sales in 2023, a nearly 15 percent increase over the previous year, “Nation’s Restaurant News” reported.

Chick-fil-A has essentially doubled its total sales volume since 2018, the report said. The popular franchise, launched by Samuel Truett Cathy in 1946 in Hapeville, Ga., outshined its chicken-serving competitors by a wide margin. Popeyes grew its sales in 2023 by 10 percent (to $5.50 billion) from the previous year, while KFC finished the year with a 1.7 increase (to $5.17 billion). Additionally, the average check at Chick-fil-A is $13.95, higher than both Popeyes ($12.30) and KFC ($12.65).

Over the past decade, Chick-fil-A has quadrupled in size to become the third-largest chain in America by sales, according to data from the research firm Technomic. Only McDonald’s and Starbucks generate more annual sales than Chick-fil-A. But even McDonald’s can’t keep up with Chick-fil-A in one key area.

The chicken chain just released its franchise disclosure document for 2024, which revealed that Chick-fil-A’s non-mall restaurants brought in $9.4 million in revenue on average in 2023. According to “Restaurant Business Magazine,” that’s more than double McDonald’s average unit volumes last year, which were close to $4 million.

News of Chick-fil-A’s revenue success comes as the quick-service food franchise modified its long-held pledge to serve only antibiotic-free chicken. In a statement shared on its website, the restaurant announced it is shifting its commitment from “No Antibiotics Ever” to “No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine” beginning this spring. Antibiotics will be used only “if the animal and those around it were to become sick,” the statement read.

The concern is the use of antibiotics in poultry will, over time, weaken the effectiveness of those medications in treating illnesses, because the human immune system will develop tolerances for such drugs. To that end, Chick-fil-A noted the medications used to treat animals are not intended for humans. Chick-fil-A is one of many companies to move in that direction as an avian flu outbreak severely impacted poultry supplies nationwide, forcing chicken farmers to turn to antibiotics.

It has also faced criticism for adding an “equity” position to its board with some fans saying it had gone “woke.”

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice