Chick-fil-A Prioritizes Private Ownership Amid Global Expansion

Andrew Cathy, who assumed leadership from his father Dan five years ago, maintains that the company’s third-generation stewardship remains its primary advantage. While rivals like McDonald’s, KFC, and Popeyes struggle with shifting consumer behavior and tightened household budgets, the Atlanta-based chain reports resilience. Cathy credits this stability to a focus on operational fundamentals and the specific hospitality model ingrained by his grandfather, S. Truett Cathy.

Financial disclosures highlight the scale of this private entity. In 2025, revenue climbed 14% to $10.3 billion, with net income reaching $1.05 billion. With approximately 3,000 locations, the chain now stands as the third-largest restaurant brand by sales in the United States, positioned directly behind McDonald’s and Starbucks. Despite this momentum, the company has no intention of pursuing an initial public offering. Cathy emphasized that the brand will continue its strategy of calculated, conservative expansion, ensuring the business remains under family control even as it establishes a footprint in markets as distant as Singapore.