While many of its competitors have hit a wall, Chick-fil-A is on a roll.
The College Park-based chicken sandwich chain rang up the fast-food industry’s highest average sales per store last year – almost $2.7 million per shop – putting it ahead of industry giants such as McDonald’s, which posted $2.4 million.
At the same time, several of Chick-fil-A’s big competitors have stalled. While Chick-fil-A has been adding stores, rival KFC has been shrinking in terms of total units, as have Pizza Hut, Arby’s, Hardee’s and Dairy Queen, according to QSR, a trade magazine for quick-service restaurants.
So what is Chick-fil-A’s secret ingredient?