Biz

The Rise Of Chick-Fil-A

P.C. POLICE CAN’T KEEP THE DELICIOUSNESS DOWN …  Chick-fil-A has fewer stores than its fast food rivals. Its owners are staunch social conservatives in a world of increasing tolerance for diverse sexual orientations.  Oh … and every single Chick-fil-A store is closed one day of the week (Sundays, for religious…

P.C. POLICE CAN’T KEEP THE DELICIOUSNESS DOWN … 

Chick-fil-A has fewer stores than its fast food rivals. Its owners are staunch social conservatives in a world of increasing tolerance for diverse sexual orientations.  Oh … and every single Chick-fil-A store is closed one day of the week (Sundays, for religious reasons).

In other words, there’s no way in hell (sorry, “heck”) that Chick-fil-A should have overtaken Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in terms of market share.

But that’s exactly what happened … two years ago.

According to a new industry report (.pdf HERE), Chick-fil-A has expanded its system-wide sales from $1.5 billion to more than $5 billion over the past decade – an annual growth rate of 12.7 percent.  In 2012, it achieved 25.1 percent of the “American limited-service chicken segment,” besting KFC’s 24.4 percent.

That gap grew in 2013, with Chick-fil-A enjoying a 26.3 percent to 21.9 percent market edge over KFC (despite there being more than twice as many KFC locations).

So … what’s next for the company?

Chick-fil-A has roughly 1,700 locations – well behind fast food giant McDonald’s 14,278 locations.  But according to the report, the chain has become a “serious and growing competitive threat” to McDonald’s.

“If Chick-fil-A can add $6.3-$9.0 billion to its systemwide sales over the next 10 years, it is entirely possible that this will be similar to – or worst-case, from McDonald’s perspective – greater than the systemwide sales that McDonald’s can add to its domestic business over that same time,” the report concludes.

Ruh-roh, Ronald …

While Chick-fil-A’s founders may hold out-of-the-mainstream views on social issues, the company benefited from a public rebuke of overwrought political correctness two years ago.

We offered this Solomon-esque wisdom at the time …

If you want to be gay, be gay … if you don’t, don’t.  Same goes for eating chicken sandwiches.  The government should have nothing to do with condoning or assailing either choice.

Exactly … and it looks like the marketplace agrees.

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64 comments

Rocky July 22, 2014 at 5:30 pm

Eat more chiken

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idcydm July 22, 2014 at 7:31 pm

Yes, they do have good commericals also.

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Jackie Chiles July 22, 2014 at 11:34 pm

No they don’t. Eat Mor Chikin is the most played marketing campaign I’ve ever seen. And I like CFA.

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Mark Petereit July 23, 2014 at 9:05 am

Pretty sure the Energizer Bunny gets that title.

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GrandTango July 22, 2014 at 5:49 pm

This has to p!$$ off FITS. Chin -Fil-A is normally the kind of target FITS and his intolerant, and bigoted, minions hate.

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Smirks July 22, 2014 at 6:29 pm

“Chin -Fil-A”

Mmm… Delicious chin sandwiches…

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CorruptionInColumbia July 22, 2014 at 6:37 pm

When he’s not copying and pasting that stupid blog, he watches internet porn and chokes his chin.

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Buz Martin July 22, 2014 at 7:08 pm

Yeah that post from Will was just DRIPPING with hatred. If you read it tripping on PCP, that is.

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Squishy123 July 23, 2014 at 10:31 am

Is it as bad as your hatred for FITS or it’s followers? Is it as bad as everyone’s hatred of you and your ghost town of a blog?

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SenseLikeChaps July 22, 2014 at 6:11 pm

I really don’t get the point of this article.

Chick-fil-A’s success may have gotten a bump over the PC bit, but their long run formula for success was about choosing their own store locations (judicious), having a cheap franchise fee (accessible), making sure the land for a location was leased, not owned (agile) and most importantly getting 50% of the net from each store ($$$).

Pray-away-the-gay didn’t build that. Business acumen did.

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Smirks July 22, 2014 at 6:33 pm

Not only that, but he’s comparing them to McDonalds and KFC. Beating shitty fast food joints really shouldn’t be all that difficult. You have to actually try to make your food taste worse than that garbage.

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Ludwig Von Mises July 22, 2014 at 6:34 pm

This is a standard Fits tactic.

Claiming he doesnt agree with “social conservatives,” then gloating if things go well for them as in this case.

Of course you’re right,but Fits is trying to make some subtle political point,not that he agrees with them mind you.(heh heh heh)

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Daniel Forsee July 22, 2014 at 6:37 pm

Business acumen does not buy chicken sandwiches from Chick-Fil-A. I do. You forgot to mention superior food, service, and friendliness.

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Soft Sigh from Hell July 22, 2014 at 6:46 pm

“superior food, service, and friendliness”

I’ve noticed that too. They make some effort to do well. It seems like it would be a good place for a kid to have a first job.

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vicupstate July 23, 2014 at 8:15 am

They do seem to get the clean cut honor roll students.
They lost my business with their political stand, just like Maurice Bessinger did.

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Mark Petereit July 23, 2014 at 9:04 am

It’s OK Vic. I ate at Chick-Fil-A 4 times the week of the boycott. And since the lines were out the door and around the building, I appreciate you staying home.

vicupstate July 23, 2014 at 9:37 am

The sad thing is, I always respected the fact that they didn’t open on Sundays. Hard to believe anyone puts principle above profit anymore.

Good People good Product July 23, 2014 at 9:47 am

They set a wonderful example of what Americans are still capable of when working with a fundamental set of values.
They are a bright spot on an otherwise bleak outlook for our country.

Soft Sigh from Hell July 23, 2014 at 6:47 pm

Now that Maurice’s BigotBQ has lost its Imperial Hooded Hog Baster I’m pondering a return.

Tunes'n'News July 22, 2014 at 6:22 pm

“American limited-service chicken segment.” Is that the happy ending you get after a rubdown at a asian trucker massage parlor?

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What? July 23, 2014 at 9:42 am

Honest to God I have seen it all but I HAVE NEVER EVER SEEN AN ASIAN TRUCKER in America.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 22, 2014 at 6:35 pm

KFC’s product has literally gone to shit. In the 60’s and 70’s, there was nothing like it for flavor. Somewhere along the line, their recipe changed from the Colonel’s original and it was noticeably different, and not for the better.

I quit doing KFC when I went to a nearby outlet (now closed) a few years back and got wings and legs that looked like they did not come from any species of chicken known to this planet. They were obviously the result of some kind of hormonal or like meddling to produce bigger parts.

I miss the old KFC

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Smirks July 22, 2014 at 6:38 pm

Too young to have had KFC back in its golden age, but their food is absolutely terrible now, that’s for sure. What’s worse than the food, though, is the service. Seems to be universally bad now too.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 22, 2014 at 6:40 pm

“You want tater wedges with that? No? Well up yours too, asshole.”

:-D

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GrandTango July 22, 2014 at 8:28 pm

You @$$ holes would b%$# if they hung you with a new rope. Those big greasy chicken legs were just right to slide up my butt and get me off if my monkey wasn’t around. Not only that but that warm chicken grease would sooth my @$$ hole when my herpes was flaring up back there. You should try it some time.

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Dave Chappelle July 23, 2014 at 10:07 am

No plug for your blog? I can’t understand why you would pass on the opportunity to promote your blog. Especially, when given the chance to mention your own handiwork after this fantastic use of prose and grammar. (i.e. greasy chicken legs . . . slide up my butt . . . get me off if my money)
By the way, I have absolutely no clue what image you are trying to create when you discuss politics, and then also discuss….”when my herpes was flaring up.”

Stay classy!

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TontoBubbaGoldstein July 23, 2014 at 9:09 pm

PRO TIP:

There’s the “Original Recipe” Grand Tango and the “New Extra Nasty” (Fanboi?…”Doppler-Ganger*”?… Acolyte?) version…

*BigT/GrandTango’s word. Not TBG’s.

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GrandTango July 28, 2014 at 9:31 pm

If you’re @$$ hole had as many men’s d!cks in it as mine has had, you’d be worrying about how sore it was when it’s herpes started flaring up too.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein July 22, 2014 at 9:38 pm

Years ago KFC’s sweet tea went all to Hell. Varied by the location though. They also ghettoized the Colonel’s image.
The KFC at 17 and 41 in Mt Pleasant had tea to die for. Most of the others in the Charleston area had some industrial pre-packages somewhat *lemon* flavored “NAS-Tea”.
ITBGHO fast food restaurants live and die by their fries and their sweet tea. McDonald’s and Chick-Fil-A do both pretty well.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 22, 2014 at 10:14 pm

“NAS-Tea”, oh God, I love that!!!!!!

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vicupstate July 23, 2014 at 8:12 am

I remember as a kid that KFC was the BEST chicken ever. It had some spice(s) that really set it apart. That was the very late 60’s or early ’70’s. By the late ’70’s it was nothing special.

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Squishy123 July 23, 2014 at 10:29 am

I stopped in at a KFC in Orangeburg, they had a buffet… holy shit it was like slopping the hogs when chicken was brought out.

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realogic July 23, 2014 at 3:46 pm

In Orangeburg, I bet it was.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein July 23, 2014 at 8:13 pm

And yet…somehow it went out of business.

TBG is still scratching his head over that one.

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Native Ink July 22, 2014 at 6:55 pm

Who cares about the political beliefs of people who make chicken sandwiches?

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Buz Martin July 22, 2014 at 7:07 pm

I never boycott over social issues. Their product is good, their service is good. No complaints about them at all. The are great at what they do, and much of their competition sucks.

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RHood2 July 22, 2014 at 7:21 pm

KFC chicken is slimy.

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TSIB July 22, 2014 at 7:52 pm

“We offered this Solomon-esque wisdom”

That does not mean what you seem to think it means.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein July 22, 2014 at 9:41 pm

King Solomon was known for more than his wisdom in one particular custody case.

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GrandTango July 22, 2014 at 7:54 pm

Thanks for reporting this: But FITS really danced around the mother-load.

Much more pointed coverage here: Read: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/

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Norma Scok July 23, 2014 at 5:21 pm

Your blog sucks. Really. Hard.

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GrandTango July 23, 2014 at 5:32 pm

It’s not geared toward dumb@$$ illiterates. So I’m glad you feel that way. :)

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E Norma Scok July 23, 2014 at 11:09 pm

Really? It’s written by one.

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Tango Can Shit July 23, 2014 at 5:45 pm

Please keep eating at Chick-Fil-A: A reg. chicken sandwich runs 55mg. cholesterol and almost 1400mg. of salt. That’s right on the edge of what you need for a whole day in one fucking sandwich!!

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GrandTango July 23, 2014 at 6:02 pm

Uh oh…the liberal food police. Y’all already control speech. And Michelle is telling er’body what to eat.
I bet Hitler is kicking himself for not being Obama.

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Same ol' Same ol' July 22, 2014 at 8:01 pm

I really don’t give a fuck about who works there.
So, go to both yourself, draw your own conclusions.
Chick fil A, mostly young, white girls trying to be nice. Managers seem upwardly mobile, try to please the customer.
KFC, mostly young (maybe some not so) black girls and mostly those who overindulge in KFC(obviously, meaning FAT), absolutely don’t give a fuck about you, or your food. God forbid anything’s wrong wit de order. Managers, like ee’s absolutely: do.not.give.a.fuck.about.you.or.anyone.else. Take ur chikin an shove it up ur mother fukin ass if u don’t kike it, cracker.
Just an observation, mind you. Do your own fucking study.
An easy decision for anyone, black, white or otherwise tinted.
It doesn’t take a fucking rocket surgeon to understand the cultural difference.

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Side of watermelon please July 23, 2014 at 11:33 am

If it wasn’t for black people, KFC would be dead and buried.

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Same ol' Same ol' July 23, 2014 at 4:57 pm

I must have some black in me somewhere, or it’s just a Southern thing. I like fried chicken just as good as anyone. I was taught how to eat a chicken leg sandwich. Doesn’t get any better than that. I like dark meat, too, and the flat wings. Drummies are overrated.. (look out, here it comes)

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TontoBubbaGoldstein July 23, 2014 at 8:24 pm

One of life’s little wins for TBG. Not only is dark meat chicken better…it’s also less expensive.

*waxes nostalgic*

Back in the day, before wing joints sprouted up on every street corner, wings were dirt cheap.

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There is no inflation July 23, 2014 at 8:37 pm

I’m old enough to remember $.05 wings and a $3 bucket of beer at the local college bar.

By the way, Elvis is the only other person I know to legitimately claim the lineage of a Southern Jewish Indian.

TontoBubbaGoldstein July 23, 2014 at 9:02 pm

TBG (fondly) recalls Thursday nights at Clemson’s Bullwinkle’s;

$2 cover and 35 cent Budweiser cans.

$5 went a long way in the early ’80s.

TontoBubbaGoldstein July 23, 2014 at 9:11 pm

By the way, Elvis is the only other person I know to legitimately claim the lineage of a Southern Jewish Indian.

Thank ya. Thank ya verrah much.

Side of watermelon please July 23, 2014 at 8:39 pm

Yes, I understand…but I’m speaking of KFC’s recent demise…there was a time when it was a quality product…but for some people routine dies hard.

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Same ol' Same ol' July 25, 2014 at 6:42 pm

The keels are still pretty good, but, good luck finding one.

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realogic July 23, 2014 at 3:51 pm

That may be just a bit crude, but it is absolutely the TRUTH.

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Same ol' Same ol' July 23, 2014 at 4:53 pm

Yes, crude, rude and uncivilized.
Reminder to self, stop drunk posting.
Even better, go to the one in Hendersonville or the one near the Yellow mall. Wow, you actually feel like you’re important to them. A real treat.

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Brick Tamland July 22, 2014 at 10:26 pm

I’m Brick Tamland. It’s cloudy out with occasional golden showers and a temperature of 69 degrees here in Greenville. We are live at the Lindsey Graham Pray the Gay away
event at Santourm Southern Baptist church (sponsored by Chic-fil-gay). We’ll be speaking with church pastor Enal Angus and youth minister Benjamen (Ben) Dover later
in our newscast.

For the Channel 10 Weather Team this is Brick Tamland back to you Dawndy.

Donita Todd sucked me off against my will.

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Jim Gandy July 23, 2014 at 12:39 pm

Now you understand why I left that shit pit of a station when I had the chance.

Instead of Donita running around pretending to be Ms Ballbreaker off of Porky’s I get to listen to bimbo patter from Darky and Andrea all day long. It’s not much but it is a change.

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raybanduchi July 22, 2014 at 10:47 pm

Citing your own figures, it appears Cick-fil-a’s view on social issues may NOT be out side the maonstream!

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idiotwind July 23, 2014 at 9:27 am

chick fil-a gave my kids BOOKS instead of movie tie-in crap with their kids meals. loved them for it. Truett Cathy might be as old and foolish as Maurice Bessinger, but Bessinger’s product sucks while Cathy’s rocks.

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Rocky-stien July 23, 2014 at 11:23 am

It sucks they’re not open on Sundays. Seems like they’re not interested in serving those from the original religion – Jews.

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E Norma Scok July 23, 2014 at 5:24 pm

Nothing better than a on a cool college football fall saturday, having a Chickfilet chicken biscuit with Bojangles chicken in the biscuit, mopping up the slight bit of fuzzy hangover..going down with a nice cold beer at 9AM.

Its the kind of alcoholic joy most yankess will never get to enjoy.

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Same ol' Same ol' July 24, 2014 at 5:16 pm

Are we related? Damn, I thought I was the only one.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein July 24, 2014 at 6:46 pm

Cousin?

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