Posted on 06/18/2019 11:07:07 PM PDT by Cronos
Chick-fil-A has whipped past rivals to become the third-largest restaurant chain in the US.
The chicken chain's massive growth in 2018 moved itto #3 on the ranking of the largest US restaurant chains with $10.46 billion in Americansystemwide sales, according to Nation's Restaurant News analysis published Monday.
McDonald's maintained the No. 1 spot, with $38.52 billion in American system-wide sales. Starbucks held on to second place with $20.49 billion.
Chick-fil-A moved up from the No. 7 spot on last year's Nation's Restaurant News' Top 200, passing Wendy's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Subway. Chick-fil-A's system-wise sales grew 16.7% in 2018, up from $8.97 billion.
Experts say there is no reason to believe Chick-fil-A's growth will slow anytime soon. If anything, Starbucks should be worried it could lose its silver medal.
"Can they double that? I think that is a very reasonable goal for them," Kalinowski Equity Research founder Mark Kalinowski told Business Insider in May.
"I would be surprised if they didn't double that in the not-too-distant future," Kalinowski added. "Can they reach $30 billion? I think that's also a realistic goal if you give them enough time. And that should put them ahead of Starbucks."
Chick-fil-A competes with chains that have many more locations because of its enviable average unit volumes. On average, a Chick-fil-A location brought in $4.6 million in annual sales in 2018, up from $4.2 million in 2017 - more than any other fast-food chain. By comparison, the average McDonald's location made $2.8 million.
Chick-fil-A has plenty of room for growth as it continues to expand outside the South.
"They're severely under-penetrated," Kalinowski said. "Once you start looking at all these other big metropolitan areas in all these states, there's room for growth for, not just years and years to come but potentially decades to come."
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
I think they threw Starbucks in there just so they wouldn’t have to admit CFA was actually #2. Because you’re right, it’s like “Which of these doesn’t belong?”
I only wish there were more places with good fish burgers. I love Filet of Fish but here they are outrageously expensive.
I love a good fish sangwich.
Never tried them... I don’t really do fast food places anyway. What’s so good about their stuff?
- - - prices are steep. - - -
If they didn’t charge more (for better quality I presume),
I would be suspicious.
No Chick-fil-A, no In n Out here :( so I have never had either. Would like to try CFA just to support them.
Since when is Starbucks considered a “restaurant chain?”
The food’s good, and the kids that wait on you are courteous, with a smile on their faces
I’m boycotting National Restaurant News until they take Starbucks out of the restaurant chain category. Enough is enough.
Yes. Higher revenues per store and low attritions among employees mean they pay staff better, treat them better and customers keep coming back.
CFA is so good...
No comparison.
CFA is way better than KFC.
I have never even seen one before!
Perhaps I should wander outside northwest Washington state occasionally?
I hear tell they are hiring at $15/hour here in central SC.
I’ll bet heads are exploding!
Exactly
isn’t that double the minimum wage there?
We have a Chick-fil-A in our town, and we have two McDonald’s. At the Chick-fil-A the buns are always stale and the lines at the drive-in are insurmountable most days. I don’t go near the place however, I have had a peach milkshake besides the two stale chicken sandwiches over the years.
I’m not going back, and no amount of free coupons will get me back either so don’t even think about it.
Mickey D’s? When I order a double cheeseburger with mustard and pickle, (no onions no ketchup) they deliver and they make it right every time which is not always the case with other restaurants.
It seems my go-to fast food is usually when I’m on the road and if there is a Taco Bell around I will get a bean burrito no cheese no onions that seems to make a happy spot in my stomach.
I was surprised Starbucks was number two. No wait, it’s probably appropriate that Starbucks is a “number two.”
I prefer KFC. I’ve had Chik-fil-a a couple of times and was not impressed.
For one thing, Chik-fil-a only uses breast meat. Which is fine for those who like white meat, but I prefer dark. KFC lets you get all dark. I call KFC my guilty pleasure.
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