Our Corporate Purpose & History of Chick-fil-A
Corporate Purpose: “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.”
In 1946, S. Truett Cathy opened a tiny diner called the Dwarf Grill (now known as The Dwarf House® restaurant) in Hapeville, Georgia. It was in this diner where Truett developed the signature original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich and the quality service for which the family-owned business is known. Today, we still make the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich the same way – and we still believe in serving great tasting food, made with quality ingredients and delivered with a warm smile.
The family-owned business has grown well beyond its roots in Atlanta and is now delivering its signature brand of service and food to guests in 48 states, Washington, D.C., Canada and Puerto Rico. After pioneering the concept of restaurants in shopping malls, opening its first mall location in 1967, the first standalone restaurant was opened in 1986. The vast majority of Chick-fil-A® restaurants are locally owned small businesses, operated by independent franchised Operators who are committed to the neighborhoods they serve. Personal connections are important at Chick-fil-A restaurants, as many Operators and Team Members engage with and support local communities through fundraisers, charitable donations and getting involved with causes that matter to their communities and guests. Operators frequently work to support local schools and organizations. Operators’ investment in Team Members goes beyond wages, with opportunities for leadership roles and promotions that lead to management positions, opportunities to earn college scholarships (we’ve invested more than $136 million in college scholarships for Team Members since 1970) and respect for work-life balance (closing on Sundays).