On March 13th, Chick-fil-A announced that the company is planning to invest $1 billion to open restaurants in Europe and Asia by the year 2026, with hopes of reaching five international markets by 2030. The company’s relatively simple menu and private ownership stands out from other large food chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks. Yet, CEO Andrew Cathy says it is necessary to innovate and assess international markets to maintain future growth. However, this is not the first time Chick-fil-A has operated internationally. Although there are locations in Canada and Puerto Rico, operations in London and South Africa were not as successful. Chick-fil-A failed to gain enough brand awareness in South Africa and faced backlash for their conservative values and actions in London. …show more content…
locations. It is important for Chick-fil-A to expand operations where there is adequate demand and developed markets, especially when large international chains like KFC held 39% of the fast-food chicken market share in Asia last year. KFC also had a strong presence in the Western European market. However, as mentioned, it is incredibly important that Chick-fil-A evaluates the cultural landscape of these new markets, especially when previous attempts at expansion failed. Although Chick-fil-A would stick to its current franchise business model, where franchise owners are limited from owning more than one restaurant, other elements of their operations should be adapted. For example, international locations are likely to serve chicken sandwiches, fries, and milkshakes, with some “local twists” on the menu. Depending on the markets they choose to expand to, which are not yet specifically mentioned, the menu may need to be more dramatically changed to fit local consumer preferences, especially amidst strong competition. Additionally, would Chick-fil-A stay closed on Sundays in other countries, even if they are not a