CEO Andrew Cathy says Chick-fil-A will remain private and pursue "calculated" growth even as the chicken chain expands internationally and opens new restaurant concepts, according to comments he made to CNBC.
Cathy, who became chief executive nearly five years ago, took over as the restaurant industry faced elevated inflation and increased competition. He told CNBC that Chick-fil-A's restaurants have weathered recent industry headwinds better than rivals. "This has been a good year," Cathy said.
The company does not report quarterly results as a privately held business. Franchise disclosures, however, show that Chick-fil-A's revenue in 2025 rose 14 percent to $10.3 billion, while net income increased 1 percent to $1.05 billion. Its roughly 3,000 locations generated $23.92 billion in system sales, making it the third-largest U.S. restaurant by sales behind McDonald's and Starbucks.
The chain opened 179 restaurants last year and has entered international markets including Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Cathy said the company has no plans for an initial public offering or outside investment, adding that staying private allows long-term planning. "We're able to plan for the quarter century, and we don't have to plan for the quarter," he said.
During his tenure, Cathy has pursued expansion strategies including a $1 billion international plan and Daybright, a beverage-focused restaurant concept. He emphasized balancing growth with tradition. Some practices, like closing on Sundays, will never change. Others, like how the chain delivers Southern hospitality, will evolve.
On technology, Cathy said Chick-fil-A will not adopt AI voice ordering in drive-thru lanes, unlike McDonald's and other competitors. "From our experience, we really want that hospitality to be human to human," he said. "We're not gonna substitute that interaction with technology, because we feel like that hospitality is so important to create that warm environment for consumers."
Chick-fil-A has ranked as the fast-food leader in customer satisfaction for more than a decade according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Jersey Mike's recently topped Chick-fil-A in the 2026 study, though Chick-fil-A's score remained unchanged from the previous year.
The chain also maintains a simple menu but carefully expands offerings through seasonal items. Cathy said the company tests new flavors and profiles, and adds permanent menu items only when they perform well, like its Pineapple Dragonfruit drink line.