Chick-fil-A plans to invest $1B to open new locations in Europe and Asia by 2026, reaching five international markets by 2030.
CEO Andrew Cathy said a global presence is necessary as the family-owned business charts its future.
Cathy said the company plans to continue with its current model where franchisees run only one restaurant, working closely with the company and splitting the profit with the chain after paying fees.
- According to market research firm Technomic, Chick-fil-A is the third largest U.S. fast-food chain by sales after McDonald’s and Starbucks.
- Chick-fil-A’s sales have quadrupled in the last 10 years, and its restaurants average more yearly sales than any other fast-food chain.
- Chick-fil-A currently runs eight locations in Canada and three in Puerto Rico.
The company’s previous attempts to serve chicken sandwiches six days a week overseas haven’t gone according to plan.
- It expanded into South Africa in 1996 but pulled out in 2001 because it couldn’t build enough brand awareness.
- A location opened near London, U.K., in 2019 but closed within months after it met opposition to the company’s donations to anti-gay-rights organizations.
