Who Owns Chick-fil-A? The Family Behind the Chain
Chick-fil-A is owned by the Cathy family. It is a private company, so it does not sell stock, and you cannot buy shares of it on the stock market.
The family took over from founder S. Truett Cathy, who started the business in Georgia in 1946. Today his sons and grandson lead the company.
Who runs the company today?
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Dan Cathy | Chairman, son of the founder |
| Andrew Cathy | CEO, grandson of the founder |
| Bubba Cathy | Executive vice president, son of the founder |
| Trudy Cathy White | Ambassador, daughter of the founder |
Who started Chick-fil-A?
S. Truett Cathy opened a small diner called the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, on May 23, 1946. It was later called the Dwarf House. There he worked on a pressure-cooked chicken sandwich that became the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich.
The first restaurant with the Chick-fil-A name opened in 1967 inside a shopping mall in Atlanta. For many years, the chain was mostly found in malls before it moved into stand-alone restaurants with drive-thrus.
Truett Cathy died in 2014 at age 93. His family has kept the company private ever since.
Who owns each Chick-fil-A restaurant?
This is where it is different from most chains. The company builds and owns the restaurants. Each one is run by a local business owner called an Operator.
- An Operator needs only about $10,000 to get started, far less than most fast food franchises.
- The company picks Operators carefully, and the process can take months.
- In most cases an Operator runs only one restaurant and works there day to day.
- The company keeps a large share of each restaurant’s money in return for owning the building and equipment.
So when you visit one, the building belongs to the company, but the team is led by a local Operator.
Can you buy Chick-fil-A stock?
No. It is not a public company. The Cathy family has said it plans to keep it that way, partly so it can keep rules like closing on Sundays without pressure from shareholders.
How big is the chain?
It has about 3,500 restaurants. Most are in the U.S., with a few in Canada, the United Kingdom and Singapore. It is the largest chicken sandwich chain in the U.S. and brought in about $21.6 billion in sales in 2023. Its main office is in the Atlanta area of Georgia.
Why is it closed on Sundays?
Truett Cathy decided in 1946 that his restaurants would close on Sundays to give workers a day of rest. Every location still closes on Sundays, plus Thanksgiving and Christmas in the U.S. See Chick-fil-A hours for full details, or check is Chick-fil-A open on Thanksgiving.
What does the food cost?
The classic Chicken Sandwich is about $5.49 and has 420 calories. See all prices on our Chick-fil-A menu with prices, or read why Chick-fil-A is expensive.
Curious about other chains? See who owns Popeyes and who owns KFC.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Chick-fil-A?
It is privately owned by the Cathy family, the family of founder S. Truett Cathy.
Who is the CEO of Chick-fil-A?
Andrew Cathy, the grandson of founder S. Truett Cathy, is the CEO. His father, Dan Cathy, is chairman.
Is Chick-fil-A a franchise?
Not in the usual way. The company owns each restaurant, and a local Operator runs it. An Operator needs about $10,000 to start.
Can I buy Chick-fil-A stock?
No. It is a private company and does not sell shares to the public.
When was Chick-fil-A founded?
Truett Cathy opened his first diner, the Dwarf Grill, in Hapeville, Georgia, in 1946. The first restaurant named Chick-fil-A opened in an Atlanta mall in 1967.
How many Chick-fil-A restaurants are there?
There are about 3,500 restaurants, mostly in the U.S.
Prices are typical U.S. prices before tax and can vary by location. Menus Info is not affiliated with any restaurant mentioned. See how we check prices.
