Chick-fil-A Is About to Overtake Taco Bell, Wendy's, and Burger King
Chick-fil-A is about to become the third largest fast food restaurant in the United States, overtaking Wendy's, Burger King, and Taco Bell.
Fast food companies are constantly competing to poach potential customers from their competitors, whether it's with an exceedingly witty social media presence or by cashing in on of-the-moment trends. However, sometimes all it takes to gain new customers is dedication to what you're good at and faster, more convenient service. That's evidently been working for Chick-fil-A because the chicken-centric chain is currently on track to become the third largest fast food restaurant in the United States, overtaking behemoth brands like Taco Bell, Wendy's, and Burger King.
Never underestimate the power of a simple, pickle-topped fried chicken sandwich.
News that the Chick-fil-A would soon ascend to number three in the fast food rankings (in terms of sales) was first reported by BuzzFeed News, which claims the brand will rise from the seventh biggest fast food chain to third biggest in the next two years. McDonald's and Starbucks are the current number one and two ranked restaurants, respectively.
And while anyone who's been treated to one of Chick-fil-A's signature sandwiches can attest to their deliciousness, it's tough to imagine it's quietly grown more popular, and bigger, than some of the most prominent players in the fast food game. They're not even open on Sundays. Yet, there are quite a few surprising elements that've helped to catapult the premier purveyors of non-beef on-the-go meals around the country to the top.
As BuzzFeed notes, one of the biggest factors in its growth is its smart incorporation of technology, making the whole customer experience faster and arguably better with mobile ordering options and in-restaurant ordering by tablets. As a result, the average Chick-fil-A location makes more than $4 million in annual sales, which is millions more than any other major fast food chain in America. They've also doubled down on convenience by streamlining the drive-thru experience -- one location in Oklahoma City recently served 216 cars in under one hour, per the report. That's a rate of 3.6 customers per minute just at the drive-thru. The amped up velocity doesn't seem to be detracting from its image as a friendly place, either, since it ranks far above other chains in terms of "satisfaction, positive buzz, and likelihood of purchase," according to the YouGov BrandIndex.
With a relatively small 2,300 total US locations (for perspective, McDonald's has over 14,000 locations), it managed to rake in roughly $9 billion in sales in 2017. If it continues on its trend of opening roughly 100 new locations per year -- like the recently unveiled (and highly controversial) New York flagship -- it projects it will hit number three status by 2020.
Who knows, maybe people just really appreciate cows more than everyone thought.
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While down in Mississippi I ate at Chik-Fil-A a few times-their sandwiches are really good and the employees are nice. They opened one up around Buffalo somewhere, but I haven't been there yet, as I don't go to Buffalo if I don't have to....
Dear Friend Spikegary: If they expand along route 31, I think you and I know the first choice for lunch that day.
This being Passover, I cannot yet go to the Sunrise Cafe due to the rye bread toast served with breakfast.
Next week, if it isn't another April Fools blizzard I will call you to set something up.
By then I will be able locally to go to the Full Belly Deli in Henrietta.
They have a Glutton's Gluten Gala sandwich. Three layers of whole wheat bread stuffed with thinly sliced rye, white and multi grain It is crowned with a topping of baked San Francisco sourdough.
"It's Carbolicious".
Enoch, shmearing some egg and onion matzo with peanut butter and Bonne Maaman fig preserves.
Sounds like a plan! I was kind of wondering where our next gastronomical experiment would happen!
Dan Cathey is entitled to his opinion, fortunately, his opinion doesn't matter anymore since gays can get married now. He never discriminated against them in his business as far as I know.
Chk-Fil-A makes a tasty product. I like how they don't put mayo on all their sandwiches, you have to ask for it. Their spicy chicken deluxe is a must try if you ever go there. I just wish they would bring back their chix salad sandwich and have chips as an option (I don't like waffle fries)
I agree. It's food. I also still go to the Dinosaur BBQ when I can becuase the food is good. I don't really care it is a Soros' owned business chain or not.
As usual, you don't really know what you're talking about. Do some research and get back with us.
Let's call him a partial owner in junk food and fast food:
I went to the website for Dinosaur BBQ and, found this.
First paragraph in the company bio,
Yup and since then, have expanded to multiple more locations, due to investment capital from Soros.
And this folks ..... is how a liberal apologizes. That is to say ..... kinda but not really ....
To be fair, you don't see a lot of conservative apologies, so the bar is unusually low in general.
If there was something here to apologize about, I would, but the only one that needs to apologize for taunting/bullying/rude/etc. etc. says she won't apologize-not that that's a surprise.
I'm not referring to you specifically. It was a general statement meant to demonstrate that nobody ever really feels like apologizing and generally speaking, people will rationalize why they shouldn't rather than just ante up and do so when appropriate.
I agree that is generally true, especially on the net but it isn't true for all of us in here. Many of us can and have "man up" when wrong. Others .... not so much. Some people are never wrong, even when they are wrong but i will agree that "party" has little to do with that level of arrogance.
Ignorance/arrogance is an equal opportunity employer.
Which was (and is) fully on display above.
I think that's like sacrilegious isn't it ???
/s
With gravy they are really good, though I don't think Chik-Fil-A has gravy....
I'll try them again, but I just haven't met a waffle fry yet that I like
Yes they serve that with a side of "heart stent" at some places.
There's a place right outside the Buffalo Airport called 'Charlie the Buthcher's'. Used to have to go to the private side of the airport every other Thursday. We'd stop there for lunch becuase it was Prime Rib sandwich day, with a side of cottage fries and a cup of beef gravy.........man, now i have to clean up the drool off my desk.
The Frito Burrito was the start of the decline for Taco Bell. Trouble with fast food tacos is that, at least in my neck of the woods, you can go sit down and get a much better meal for the same price or less at a restaurant, and be in and out in 20 minutes.
Fast food burgers are about the same. Why go to Wendy's or the King, when I can go to the greasy spoon across the road, and get a far superior burger?
Chik-Fil-A does the drive through right. Even when the line is snaking around the building, you can get in and out in a matter of minutes.
I agree, there are several places to go to get a real dining experience, but in the world of fast food, they are moving up and as to Taco Bell.......(we have Mighty Taco here-far superior)
I want a Taco Bueno close to where I live or work.
We used to have Taco Hut. Better tacos, still no playground.
We had a Colossal Taco open up near our building.....but the guys went there and were underwhelmed......
I'm trying to remember the fast food taco joint I went to in San Antonio. I think it was a Taco Bueno and I liked it very much. There's a TB down the road, and I mean down the road from where I work (about 30 miles) but I'm not going there for lunch.
Yeah, that is the best of the bunch. They actually make pretty much everything right in front of you, including the tortillas.
haha...the crazy left wingers made them famous.
Kinda of like the increase in gun sales when lefties start demanding more gun control.
The left hating you should be in every business plan.
Love their peach shakes
Never ate at one of these places in my life. The only one around here, that I know of, is in the food court at the mall. Never go there.
Hardly ever eat fast food. Not a fan of a heart attack in a wrapper.
Huh? As in wgaf.
Then why are you wearing out preciously needed brain cells here?
If I'm going to have fast food, I'm going with " In and Out Burger''....The best of the best.
Best fast food Burger is Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger. You even order by weight and all patties are made fresh. Yum!
You've probably never had a In and Out Burger since they are mainly on the West Coast...But, another is the World Famous Tommy's Original....their chili burger is to die for.
The burger wars have started.....
LOL, yes they have.....
I might have to create a thread about the fast food/restaurant cravings of this forum. Maybe that could be non-political. maybe............
please do it
In-and-Out is hands down the best burger ever, though Fatburger is great too. But at In-and-Out you get a two double double cheeseburgers plain, just the meat, the cheese and the bun, with a drink and you are good to go. Heaven!. Ignore the fries because their fries are just not that great.
I liked it when I was in Biloxi at classes over the years.
Never had one of those but i put Five Guys and In & Out burger in the same category.
Killer burgers at both places but no one beats the burgers at Casa Sparty.
Damn, now i've a got a taste for one and will be grilling burgers in the snow tonite.
Would you do an article? IT sounds like it would be fun.
I'd consider writing an article. 200-300 words, maybe.
cool!
We could have the very first NT Food Fight!
No doubt!
Hey. We're talking about chicken here......LOL.......but if you're talking Burgers, we don't have any good fast food places, but there are some local joints.....like the one serving Cheeseburger soup (more famous now that they've been on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives) called Grovers in Western New York......to die for....
I like David's Burgers which is a local chain here. They put one in about 2 miles down from the house right on the corner.
Damn them!
Not a chicken fan...I want meat not fowl.
My favorite chicken.
Sorry to be off topic, speaking of burgers, there is a burger place here called Mugshots. They actually have a burger with peanut butter on it and one with mac and cheese on it. Really weird menu. Most of it sounded gross to me.
I remember the cheeseburger soup.
I love that show, even if he acts like a drunken frat boy 75% of the time.
I miss beef on weck when I pass through the area.
I've been to a 'Mugshots' in Biloxi. Right next tot he mall where the Chik-Fil-A is. Their burgers were good, the buns were especially tasty.
WHy would you miss it when you drive throguh the area? Wouldn't that be the perfect time not to miss it? LOL
You need to go to Le Rivage in NYC....they have a french onion soup burger to die for.......
That looks so good but I'd eat it with a knife and fork so I don't end up wearing it.
For actual "fast food", they are definitely tops in the burger world. I'm not a great fan of animal style, but in general, they're really good. Just ask this dude:
LMAO, the eating machine.
I can't watch stuff like that. I will puke
I wonder what's in the cup that he keeps pouring and dunking his sandwich in.
I kind of thought it looked like a shake. Not sure what flavor.
The point to all these Rah Rah Chick-Fil-A articles seems to be, "Ha Ha Ha! The bigots win one". Congratulations?
And yet, here you are. You obviously didn't read the article. Definitely not for comprehension. No mention of religions, beliefs, morals, etc., etc. BUt here you are injrcting it....sounds like it's not a Chik-Fil-A problem......
Why is this chain so popular? Besides fast and inexpensive what makes them such a winner?
I don't eat there, but not just for political reasons (though there this that). But I never really ate there before anyway because I just don't like their chicken. It's bland and just not very good tasting. KFC is a lot better and so is Popeye's.
I'm a KFC fan myself, extra crispy chicken. The Chick-fil-a chicken is too greasy for me, and I don't like the breading. Popeye's is not bad, but, KFC has them beat.
I only like Popeye's if I get the extra spicy. Even then I have to be in the mood for spicy chicken. But your right, few things beat KFC extra crispy, though man the prices have gone up!
Yeah...the prices have gone up at KFC. But, the have also gone up in many other chain operations as well. Only one thing I like better that KFC's chicken tenders, and that's McDonalds Buttermilk crispy tenders. They are really better than KFC's. But, KFC's a good too. I myself am not fond of the spicy chicken. Nor BBQ'd chicken. Never have cared for it. It's about the only thing I don't like BBQ'd. For spicy food, I prefer either Mexican or Cajun.
Is there ever not a time for Extra Spicy Chicken? LOL
I like Popeyes occasionally, but it's a 30 mile trip.
I only like Popeyes with virgin Olive Oil
I'm a big popeyes fan....took forever, but there is finally one in Niagara Falls. But for a quick danwich-yeah, Chik-Fil-A is an option for decent chicken sandwiches and a decent attitude form employees. KFC has been off my list for years...nothing like mashed potatoes that taste like styrafoam.
Popeye's is opening up across the street from where I work.
Damn them!
(I was hoping for a Dairy Queen because I'm just not fat enough)
Though I may not agree with the ownerships certain, let us call them outlooks on particular subjects they do make a good sandwich. Just making their way into the Northeast.
Now that I have that out of the way, politicizing Fast Food. Really?
Well, for those that read the story, there is no politics in it-I posrted it as news, because they are moving into terrirotry once owned by some other mega-chains. Then we have the 'perpetually offended' crowd show up.......and well, you can read the results........
I was referring to the shower of political comments (as you noted) made, not the article.
Understood. was adding to, not objecting to your post.
I'll take a cheeseburger or burrito over a thumper chicken sandwich any day. But they really should open their drive-up windows on Sunday and give free sandwiches to everyone that shows they were born again and got their jesus cards punched in church that day. I think that might be a nice gesture. Schedule all the non-true believer employees to work.
Now, there's a business model. A shitty one, but one nonetheless. No wonder you are so successful......LOL. And the business chooses not to be open on sunday, becuase it is the owners' belief that Sunday should be a day of rest.
How dare they!
They should be open on Sunday's so the haters can hate on them seven days a week and not just six. Taking away the ability to boycott on that seventh day is unconscionable.
Oh the humanity!
Now that really IS funny!
Knee slapping, spit-taking hilarious actually.
We always hear you. You're the one yelling while regular people are talking like adults.
The Mortician Association of America is ecstatic about this news. Sick Fil-A is great for their business!
One can't live forever.....
Who would want to? (besides clueless evangelicals)
certainly not me
I want this life to be over before my retirement runs out
In my area, Chick-fil-A has grown quite a bit. Two years ago, there were none within a 15 mile radius. Now, there are 4. They're always busy, and their customer service is fantastic.
Dear Friend Spikegary: Breaking News!
A new chicken franchise has opened up at the village of Inland Port.
At the corner of Young and Foolish in a wishbone shaped edifice is the grand opening of Chicken Atrocious.
Their menu features the following classic culinary chicken selections.
General Tso's Ptomaine: No one who ever ordered it was heard to complain about its flavor.
Bird Flu Burger: Internet reviews have gone viral.
Family Bucket of Beaks and Bones: I recommend the extra crunchy. If you order the they throw in for no extra charge a side of siding (vinyl is final), and your choice of Ebola Cola or Coke Au Fin (Seafood Soda).
The motto at Chicken Atrocious is: "Fast Food You Cannot Praise Too Highly".
Enoch, On My Way to the E.R.
Kind of like the motto for the first commuter bus company I worked for in D.C.? 'Take A Chance'.
LOL.
Good one!
E.