Chick-fill-A is set to overtake Taco Bell, Wendy's and Burger King in its projected rise to third in U.S. fast food restaurant sales by opening 100 new stores per year, giving it 2,300 total locations that each rake in about $4 million in annual sales.
McDonalds and Starbucks are currently sitting at the top in terms of sales and, while Chick-fill-A is still sitting at seventh of the largest fast food chains, it will soon be snapping at the heels of its competitors, The Thrillist reported.
Central to the chicken-based franchise’s success is its smart use of technology.
BuzzFeed reported Chick-fill-A is incorporating features such as mobile ordering and on-site ordering by tablet to speed up its service – and this has been paying off.
Customers have ranked the franchise above other chains in terms of satisfaction, positive buzz and likelihood of purchase, which translates into more sales.
Chick-fil-A has also gained popularity for offering food perceived to be fresh and more wholesome, according to Chicago-based market research firm Technomic.
“As consumers press for food with a story made with better and cleaner ingredients, fast-casual chains will continue to meet these demands and grow at an industry-leading pace,” said Technomic President Darren Tristano.
“Chains such as Culver’s, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers and Chick-fil-A have also carved out a growth niche as concepts that blur the line between traditional quick service and fast casual by offering foods higher in perceived quality and freshness but staying below fast-casual price points.”