Chick-fil-A reached $23.9 billion in US sales in 2025, an increase of about 5% from $22.7 billion in 2024. However, chief executive Andrew Cathy says the restaurant chain will continue to close on Sundays. He has never calculated how much extra business Sunday opening might bring because changing the policy is not something he is considering.
The tradition began in 1946, when his grandfather, S. Truett Cathy, opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. After working seven days a week, the founder wanted himself and his employees to have time to rest, be with family or attend church if they wished. Andrew Cathy, who took over as chief executive in 2021, says family ownership allows the company to make decisions that support workers rather than seek every possible penny.
There have been occasional exceptions. In 2017, Chick-fil-A opened on a Sunday to provide food for travellers who were stuck at Atlanta's airport during a power failure. Nevertheless, Cathy says employees value knowing that they will always have one weekend day away from work. He is not willing to ask restaurant operators and their teams to give up that guaranteed break.
