Chick-fil-A, the Christian-owned company, will soon become the third-largest restaurant chain in the United States.
CNBC revealed on May 8 that the chain is on its way to becoming this year’s third-largest retail restaurant, passing Subway and trailing only McDonald’s and Starbucks.
“Chick-fil-A stands out largely because it has avoided any major menu renovations, unlike competitors McDonald’s and Burger King [by] sticking to a relatively simple menu,” CNBC’s Sara Eisen reported.
She added that the company has instead focused “on its signature chicken sandwiches.”
Chick-fil-A will reach No. 3 “despite all the controversy and despite the fact that it’s closed on Sundays,” she stated.
Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy decided to close on Sundays back in 1946 when he opened the 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 and worship if they choose – a practice we uphold today,” the website says.
In a 2017 interview, Jodee Morgan, Chick-fil-A Senior Director of Culture and Talent Operations, said the strategy has benefited the business.
“Despite being open only six out of seven days a week, we’ve been able to consistently generate more sales than competitors who are open every day,” Morgan said. “And I do think customers appreciate our policy. I know our employees do.”
