Chick-fil-A was founded by Cathy’s father and uncle, Truett and Ben Cathy, in 1946. When Ben was killed in a plane crash two years later, Truett Cathy went on to build Chick-fil-A into the national fast food presence that the company enjoys today. Truett’s sons, Dan and Donald, were brought into the business at an early age and now direct the company with Dan as COO and Donald as Senior Vice President. At age 89, Truett Cathy still serves as CEO, coming into the office every day.
The name Chick-fil-A was created by applying a little poetic license to the phrase “chicken fillet.” Truett Cathy is credited with first developing the quick- serve boneless chicken sandwich. He is also known for his “five-step recipe for success.” These steps extol the benefits of confident but careful business growth, fostering loyalty among employees through fair treatment, quality customer service and placing principles above profit.
Perhaps the most well known of these steps for success is the concept of closing all locations on Sunday. Chick-fil-A is the only national fast food restaurant to do so. Truett Cathy has long held the position that closing on Sundays honors God and communicates biblical priorities.
It’s hard to argue with this recipe given the fact that Chick-fil-A has experienced 41 consecutive years of sales growth. With $2.9 billion in annual sales last year, Chick-fil-A is the second largest fast food chain in the country.
A tiny diner in Hapeville, Georgia called the “Dwarf Grill” served as a humble starting place for a company that now employs over 600 corporate employees. With more than1,430 locations, Chick-fil-A has assumed a national fast food presence, all while remaining closed on Sundays.
One of the company’s core values centers on the idea of giving back to the community. The WinShape Foundation, established in 1984, sponsors quality, long term foster care facilities, a scholarship program, and an annual summer camp that reaches over 1900 young people each year. Truett Cathy himself is known to personally visit children at WinShape foster homes.
Chick-fil-A shows its loyalties to its employees in many ways including an employee scholarship program and generous sales incentives. The scholarship program has awarded over 25 million dollars since its inception in 1976. Such activities make it clear that the Chick-fil-A corporation gives more than just lip service to the values it espouses.
While speaking at Cedarville University, Dan Cathy praised his father. “I’m so thankful that my dad, as I was just a young child, taught me the fun of work, the joy, the passion of purpose that you can have in work,” Cathy said.