Chick-fil-A Has 5 Major Changes Happening in 2024

There’s almost nothing better than biting into the crunchy, juicy, flavorful goodness of well-made fried chicken. With this in mind, S. Truett Cathy opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta in 1967.

The chain continues to deliver high-quality items at prices that can help you stretch your fast food budget . Their chicken sandwiches are simple but next-level, and their waffle fries are a true fan favorite.

Chick-fil-A is a fast food giant

Chick-fil-A was the first national restaurant chain to design its menu around the fried chicken sandwich as its signature item.

The chain currently operates over 3,000 restaurants and employs over 200,000 people in 38 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

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Chick-fil-A fell in rankings

Recently, restaurant chain Chick-fil-A dropped in popularity to America’s third favorite fast-food drive-through option. This was a fall from grace, as they had held the top spot for nearly a decade.

Chick-fil-A falls behind Del Taco and KFC nationally but still ranks higher than In-N-Out Burger, Taco Bell, and, well, every other fast food spot.

Ratings don’t reflect poor sales

While popularity matters, the chain has essentially doubled its profit since 2018, so the rankings by no means make it unsuccessful.

In April, it was reported that Chick-fil-A non-mall locations were bringing in an average revenue of $9.4 million per store, more than double the current average of McDonald’s.

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Chick-fil-A is pivoting

While new changes have started to roll out this year, a new President with an eye on expansion was just announced earlier this month.

Cathy Frost was previously head of Restaurant Development and Field Operations and has a keen eye for the company's current needs. At the same time, Frost named a new COO in internal hire Cliff Robinson.

Dramatic menu changes

Chick-fil-A is known for its simplified menu. It specializes in chicken, and it does it well. But this summer, it introduced a seasonal Maple Pepper Bacon Sandwich to mass acclaim.

This move may indicate future limited-edition rollouts, like a new waffle potato fry alternative recipe they've been working on.

Focus on digital locations

Chick-fil-A did what no other restaurant has before and opened an all-digital storefront in New York City in March.

This location has no menus or chairs and is designed to accommodate both delivery drivers and consumers who have placed an order for pickup through the app.

The restaurant chain is looking to make more options like this available throughout the continental United States.

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Mass expansion

2024 has been a year of expansion for Chick-fil-A. This year, the chain opened two drive-thru-only locations in Florida and California and added to its popular dine-in and drive-thru locations in Florida, New York, California, New Jersey, and beyond.

They plan to expand internationally next year into Europe and Asia, with additional locations being built in Canada over the next five years.

Change to antibiotic policy

While Chick-fil-A is known for sourcing antibiotic-free, fresh chicken options, this is changing soon. Citing supply chain issues, they will be shifting to meat labeled “No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM).”

The brand claims this will allow them to assure more of the same food quality across the board, though they did not mention if it would be lower quality than what we are accustomed to.

A reduction in food waste

Chick-fil-A announced earlier this year that the chain is joining the United States Food Waste Pact. This initiative was created to help food-based businesses enact sustainable practices and reduce food waste.

They are the first restaurant chain to have joined, which will undoubtedly inspire others to follow.

Bottom line

While Chick-fil-A has slid down in the ratings, it’s still a fast food giant that helps your paycheck stretch a bit further when dining out and is poised to take over many markets in the next five years.

The fried chicken chain’s affinity for innovation in the food industry will inspire a bevy of menu changes and new offers that will help you save money next time you eat out.

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt. Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).