# Chik-fil-A and making money **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 14, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795 "2004-08-14T03:36:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/41 "2004-08-16T12:39:04Z")
> [@Harimad-sol](#): > > The Chik-fil-A in my university’s food court closed last semester. :mad: When the food court at Johns Hopkins was being remodeled, one company in consideration was Chick-Fil-A. But it was dropped because of its Christian associations. From their website: > [@](#): > > Our official statement of corporate purpose says that we exist “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” Frankly, I find that a bit creepy. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/42 "2004-08-16T15:30:13Z")
No Chik-fil-A’s in my area, tho I wish there were. RE companies supporting conservative causes- when I heard people citing Winona Ryder’s complaint in REALITY BITES that Domino’s Pizza contributed to Operation Rescue, it did kinda sway me to order from Domino’s more often. I always considered OR kinda extreme, considers Randall Terry totally disreputable, and I have no idea if DP has contributed to OR, BUT I know that the founder is a conservative Catholic C’tian & that if the Hollywood Left felt a need to slam DP, it must be doing something right. Of course, it wouldn’t get my business at all if it weren’t damn fine pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/43 "2004-08-16T15:36:20Z")
I wouldn’t give a crap if they’re run by Anton LaVey and the church of Satan Himself. As long as they make tasty chicken like they do, I’m eatin’ there. I drive a long ways to eat that stuff. Mmmmm…waffle fries. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/44 "2004-08-16T15:41:39Z")
Ouch. I must retract my statement, not because I believe I’m _wrong_, but because, for the life of me, I can’t find the link to the SDMB thread I read about it in. Damn search engine! I _know_ I read it here! :mad: :mad: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/45 "2004-08-16T16:32:13Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Of course, it wouldn’t get my business at all if it weren’t damn fine pizza. Dominos is good pizza? Since when? ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/46 "2004-08-16T16:36:14Z")
[public service announcement] At all the locations around here, at least, Chik-fil-A fries their chicken in **peanut oil** , which is bad news for those who are allergic. :mad: (Go Popeye’s!Yay, Popeye’s!) [/public service announcement] ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/47 "2004-08-16T16:49:28Z")
> [@Jenny Haniver](#): > > At all the locations around here, at least, Chik-fil-A fries their chicken in **peanut oil** , which is bad news for those who are allergic. Apparently, that’s not the case. From the Chick-fil-A website page on [food allergies](http://www.chickfila.com/allergen.asp): > [@](#): > > We have been using refined (heat processed) peanut oil exclusively since our founder created the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich in the early 1960s. He found it to be the purest oil to use and better tasting to customers. We label our foil bags and Chick-fil-A Nugget boxes informing customers of our use of peanut oil. > > The following information regarding the use of oils and food allergies was obtained from the International Food Information Council Foundation.\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Q. Are oils derived from foods that can cause allergy, such as peanut oil, also allergenic? > > > > A. Not usually. Most commercial oils such as peanut oil are highly refined (hot solvent extracted), which removes protein from the product. These types of oil are most commonly used in commercial food preparation. Since it is protein in allergenic foods that causes food allergy, highly refined oils are non-allergenic. This seems to be borne out by other sources, like [this](http://www.spokaneschools.org/NutritionServices/Allergies/oils.stm), which says: > [@](#): > > The allergens in peanuts, soybeans, and sunflower seeds are proteins. Edible oils refined by the typical U.S. process contain no detectable protein and are thus free of the allergen. Thus, these oils should be safe for allergic individuals to eat. Salad dressings, margarine, shortening, and other oil-containing products should be safe as long as they do not contain other sources of the allergenic proteins (e.g., other soy ingredients). Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend that you talk to your physician before putting this to the test. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/48 "2004-08-16T16:50:46Z")
There is one at the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem PA (just outside Philadelphia) which is a very busy/popular mall. It is without fail closed every Sunday. I often wondered how they manage to get around the mall rules which were very strict when I worked there at another store. There was hell to pay if we were late opening in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/49 "2004-08-16T17:00:29Z")
Thanks, **Q.E.D.**. It’s nice to see that Chik-fil-A addresses the issue…but I’m still not betting on it, since I’m so very fond of breathing! ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/50 "2004-08-16T17:08:44Z")
I guess I’m the only person who considers a Chik-Fil-A sandwich on the same level as that of one of those one dollar microwavable sandwiches you find in some grocery stores. Actually, no. I prefer the microwavable sandwiches. At least they’re cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/51 "2004-08-16T17:18:47Z")
No, I’m right there with you. A lump of bland fried chicken on a limp bun with two slices of pickle. It was pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Composer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Composer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Composer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/52 "2004-08-16T17:49:19Z")
[Nitpick] As a former CFA employee, it kills me to see the company name spelled “Chik-fil-A.” The correct spelling is “Chick-fil-A.” (Don’t leave out the second “c” in chick.) Thanks! [/Nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/53 "2004-08-16T18:34:10Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > I wouldn’t give a crap if they’re run by Anton LaVey and the church of Satan Himself. > > As long as they make tasty chicken like they do, I’m eatin’ there. > > I drive a long ways to eat that stuff. Mmmmm…waffle fries. Agreed. Otherwise you’d have to boycott In-N-Out Burgers because they have “John 3:16” printed on the bottom of their soft drink cups. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/54 "2004-08-16T19:28:17Z")
Going by average unit volume (the average amount a single unit would bring in through the course of a year), Chick-fil-A doesn’t seem to be hurting from being closed one day of the week: Chick-fil-A: $1,541,000 Popeyes: $909,000 KFC: $898,000 McDonald’s:$1,700,000 Burger King:$990,000 ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/55 "2004-08-16T20:25:39Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > In-n-Outs are opened on Sundays though. Most of them are opened 24/7/365. I live in the OC, land of the In-N-Out cult extroidinaire, and I’ve never known of one to be open all night. They do tend to be the last one to close, though, often at 1:00am and willing to let you sit inside for another hour or so as they clean up. ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/56 "2004-08-17T01:44:37Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Ouch. > > I must retract my statement, not because I believe I’m _wrong_, but because, for the life of me, I can’t find the link to the SDMB thread I read about it in. > Damn search engine! > > I _know_ I read it here! :mad: :mad: :mad: Just a WAG but the C-F-A supported charities are probably those that teach abstinence. Googled abstinence +chick-fil-a. I am not particularly interested but I feel that is the right direction based on a few of the links. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/57 "2004-08-17T03:02:39Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Ouch. > > I must retract my statement, not because I believe I’m wrong, but because, for the life of me, I can’t find the link to the SDMB thread I read about it in. > Damn search engine! > > I know I read it here! :mad: :mad: :mad: Probably the same thread as one about them discriminating against homosexuals. I can’t find that particular one either. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/58 "2004-08-17T03:19:46Z")
Re: Chick-fil-A mall stores getting exemptions from mall rules on store hours. It wasn’t always the case. Unless I’m gravely misremembering, the first Chick-fil-A I knew of was the one in McCain Mall in North Little Rock, AR, and in the early days it _was_ open on Sundays. I seem to recall others as well; in fact, I recall taking notice of it when the mall locations started closing on Sundays. I’ve always assumed that once Chick-fil-A reached a certain level of popularity and profitability, the power in the relationship shifted from the mall management to Chick-fil-A, and as leases came up for renewal Chick-fil-A negotiated exemptions. In the Southeast, at least, most people take it for granted that where there’s a mall food court there’s a Chick-fil-A, so mall management almost can’t afford for them not to be there. So while I also admire Truett Cathy’s devotion to his principles while deploring some of those principles themselves (being Jewish, I have to admire someone who’s willing to forgo a day’s revenues each week in order to keep his Sabbath), it should be noted that before the Chick-fil-A brand became so well established, those principles were rather more flexible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795.md?page=2)