Chick-fil-A Clues In Potential Chicagoland Operators

Now that the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain has made its way to the Chicago area—including that opened last October—expansion plans are under way and operators are being sought to spearhead the chicken invasion.

With that in mind, the company held a Chick-fil-A Franchised Operator Information Seminar on Monday at the Chicago Marriott Northwest in Hoffman Estates.

The seminar was more of a get-to-know-the-company event than a sales pitch seeking investors, something the representatives from Chick-fil-A were quick to point out. Although just about anybody can apply to be an operator with the company, Chick-fil-A has an arduous application process that is more like a college entrance exam crossed with a job application rather than simply plunking down money and opening a store.

Most of the roughly 75 people in attendance at the seminar already had taken the first step down the road to franchise ownership, Franchise Selection Consultant Joel Sigmon said.

“There were a good number of folks that were here that were already in the process and we just said, 'We'd love you to learn more,’’’ Sigmon said. “It isn't a step in the process, it's not anything that will necessarily help their candidacy. We just want to share the Chick-fil-A story in a brand-new market and we like to educate people on what you can expect from the process.”

Sigmon opened the meeting with a brief trivia section that featured prizes before turning the floor over to Andrew Cathy, grandson of Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy and an operator selection committee member. Cathy briefly ran through the history of Chick-fil-A and then got down to brass tacks.

Cathy said that this year, Chick-fil-A expects to bring in $3.7 billion (yes, with a “b”) in revenue from its nearly 1,600 stores nationwide. He added that the corporation generally opens between 70 to 75 stores per year, with about 13 locations scheduled to open in the Chicagoland area by the end of the first quarter of 2012.

To end the meeting, a question-and-answer session took place to allow attendees to learn more about the corporation. Afterward, many attendees stayed around to ask more questions of Cathy, Lockwood and Sigmon, including Dan Risley of Glen Ellen.

Risley said his first experience at a Chick-fil-A was 11 years ago in Tampa, Fla., and he's been hooked ever since—so much so that he had to find out more about the possibility of opening a restaurant.

“I don't have any (restaurant) experience but, I mean, I love their sandwich,” Risely said. “I just thought it was an awesome chicken sandwich.”

As for the process of getting a foot in the door at Chick-fil-A, Risely said he understands the motive behind the method.

“If I was them, I'd be picky of who I'd go into business with. I think that's wise of them,” he said. “If it was my business, I'd do the same thing.”