Chick-fil-A is bringing within the bucks — and slowing down site visitors.
The rooster chain introduced in $18.8 billion in U.S. gross sales final yr, marking constant upward development since 2019, based on the model’s Franchise Disclosure Doc launched earlier this week. However Chick-fil-A additionally ranked final for velocity of service, based on The 2022 QSR Drive-Through Report, with the typical transaction taking 325.47 seconds (for reference, Taco Bell ranked primary at 221.99 seconds).
However this information could be a little bit deceiving when trying on the variety of vehicles serviced on the drive-thru. Chick-fil-A had essentially the most vehicles, 5.45 on common, based mostly on information analyzing what number of autos have been in entrance of survey respondents earlier than they reached the speaker. McDonald’s got here in second with 3.13. When scaling velocity of service with the typical variety of vehicles in line, Chick-fil-A truly is available in first with a median of 107.41 seconds, based on the report.
The chain additionally got here in at No. 2 for “velocity of service satisfaction,” which measures buyer satisfaction versus wait time, with a score of 93% — handed solely by Arby’s at 96%.
Nonetheless, Chick-fil-A’s reputation, significantly its drive-thrus, has brought about some native communities to petition for restrictions.
Earlier this yr, the Charlotte Metropolis Council unanimously permitted the movement to tear down a Chick-fil-A location and rebuild it as a two-lane drive-thru-only location in response to a petition by prospects, citing lengthy wait instances and disruption to native site visitors.
In Florida, a location eradicated its drive-thru operation following a sequence of vehicle-related incidents in 2021. The next yr, a San Diego storefront was virtually declared a public nuisance resulting from site visitors jams.
Regardless of the drive-thru logistical points, it is nonetheless Gen Z’s favourite chain, based on Nation’s Restaurant Information.