Chick-fil-A Expands Globally While Keeping Its Family-Owned Model

Chick-fil-A has grown far beyond its traditional Southeastern U.S. base, opening 179 restaurants last year and expanding into markets including Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Franchise disclosures show company revenue rose 14% to $10.3 billion in 2025, while systemwide sales reached $23.92 billion. That made Chick-fil-A the third-largest U.S. restaurant chain by sales, behind McDonald’s and Starbucks.

The growth comes as much of the restaurant industry faces softer traffic and increasingly selective consumers. Competitors including McDonald’s, Popeyes and KFC have encountered pressure, but Cathy said Chick-fil-A has avoided a comparable downturn. He attributed the company’s performance partly to strong execution by restaurant operators and its continued emphasis on hospitality.

Despite its growing scale, Chick-fil-A has no plans to go public or seek outside investors. Cathy said remaining private allows management to make decisions over much longer time horizons rather than focusing on quarterly expectations. The company plans to maintain what he described as a calculated and conservative approach to growth even as it pursues a $1 billion international expansion strategy.

Chick-fil-A is also taking a different approach to technology from some of its fast-food rivals. While the company is exploring artificial intelligence behind the scenes and considering technologies such as drone delivery, Cathy said it does not plan to replace employees with AI voice ordering in drive-thru lanes. Chick-fil-A believes direct human interaction remains an important part of the hospitality experience that differentiates its restaurants.

The company is similarly cautious about expanding its traditionally simple menu. Seasonal products, including new sandwiches, beverages and other limited-time offerings, allow Chick-fil-A to experiment without permanently adding complexity. Successful products can eventually become permanent additions, but Cathy said new items must remain distinctive to the Chick-fil-A brand.

Competition in chicken has intensified since Popeyes helped ignite the “chicken sandwich wars” in 2019. Chick-fil-A nevertheless remained the dominant U.S. chicken chain with roughly 43% market share in 2024, according to Barclays, compared with about 11% for Popeyes. Rather than viewing new competitors solely as a threat, Cathy said increased competition pushes Chick-fil-A to improve details across food, service and the overall customer experience.

At the same time, Chick-fil-A is exploring growth beyond its core restaurants through Red Wagon Ventures, its internal venture unit. The company has experimented with restaurant concepts such as Daybright, which focuses on coffee, smoothies, juices and doughnuts, and has also entered home services through Acrew Home Professionals. Red Wagon Ventures could eventually acquire other family businesses, particularly companies seeking new ownership because they lack succession plans.

The strategy reflects Chick-fil-A’s attempt to balance its traditions with long-term expansion. Core principles such as remaining closed on Sundays and emphasizing personal service are expected to stay, while international growth, new concepts and selective technology adoption provide avenues for expansion. For the 80-year-old family business, staying private gives management the flexibility to pursue those opportunities while planning in decades rather than quarters.