Chick-fil-A is one of the largest and most popular fast food chicken chains in the United States Their delicious chicken sandwiches and nuggets have gained a cult-like following over the years. But where exactly does all that juicy, breaded chicken come from? Let’s take a closer look at Chick-fil-A’s chicken supply chain.
An Overview of Chick-fil-A’s Chicken
As America’s largest chicken chain Chick-fil-A takes its chicken very seriously. The chicken breasts used for their sandwiches and nuggets are 100% real whole chicken breasts. The chicken contains no fillers, added steroids or hormones. It is raised specifically for the chain in barns, not cages, on farms in the United States. Chick-fil-A claims its chicken is raised according to its Animal Wellbeing Standards and with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM).
The chicken is delivered fresh to Chick-fil-A restaurants up to six days a week to ensure optimal quality and flavor. The chicken is then hand breaded in store using the chain’s signature seasoning and pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil.
Chick-fil-A’s Stringent Standards
Chick-fil-A employs a hands-on approach with its chicken suppliers to guarantee adherence to rigid quality and safety standards. Their supply chain team visits key suppliers and farms annually. When a new supplier is added, multiple initial visits are made to confirm proper food handling, safety protocols and prevention of contamination at both the farm and processing facility level.
Ongoing third-party inspections between visits add another layer of supply oversight to prevent issues from arising. Chick-fil-A believes these lasting supplier relationships built on trust are key to maintaining high standards. In fact, many supplier partnerships were first established decades ago by founder S. Truett Cathy himself.
Where The Farms Are Located
While Chick-fil-A has suppliers across the country, most of the chicken farms are concentrated within the Southeastern states. This region provides a warm climate and access to feed grains that make raising poultry efficient and cost-effective.
Many of the company’s chicken suppliers are located in Georgia, where Chick-fil-A first began operating in 1967 and still maintains its headquarters today. Other states where Chick-fil-A chicken farms are found include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Leading Chick-fil-A Chicken Suppliers
Over the decades, Chick-fil-A has partnered with a number of major chicken producers to meet its high volume needs across the country. Some of their largest suppliers of chicken include
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Pilgrim’s Pride – One of the largest chicken producers in the world located primarily in Texas. Has supplied Chick-fil-A for over 30 years.
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Tyson Foods – The second largest chicken company globally. Based in Arkansas and a longtime Chick-fil-A supplier.
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Perdue Farms – Major chicken producer founded in Maryland. Has a multi-decade supplier partnership with Chick-fil-A.
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Wayne Farms – Subsidiary of Continental Grain Company and a top 10 U.S. chicken producer. Key supplier to Chick-fil-A since the 1960s.
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Sanderson Farms – Third largest poultry producer in the U.S. Supplies chicken for Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide.
In 2016, Chick-fil-A opened a chicken processing plant with one of its longtime suppliers, JBS, in Carthage, Texas. The plant allowed them to streamline operations and work closely with suppliers firsthand to meet volume demand.
Specialty Regional Suppliers
In addition to its main national suppliers, Chick-fil-A works with smaller regional farms for certain menu items. One example is Orchard View Farms in Cashmere, Washington, which supplies the chopped apples used on salad and dessert menu offerings at West Coast locations. East Coast restaurants source their chopped apples from orchards in Western New York instead.
Another specialty supplier is Cal-Organic Farms in California, which provides the carrots used in seasonal Harvest Harvest salads. Depending on the time of year, lettuce may also come from regional growers in California and Arizona.
Chick-fil-A’s Commitment to Quality Chicken
By cultivating strong partnerships with its network of trusted chicken suppliers, Chick-fil-A has built a reliable supply chain to deliver premium quality chicken to its restaurants year-round. The company spares no expense when it comes to rigorously enforcing proper protocols and safeguards to ensure the wholesomeness of its core menu ingredient.
Chick-fil-A’s focus on supplying high-grade chicken from reputable American farms is a key factor in what keeps customers coming back for its signature chicken dishes again and again. So next time you bite into a juicy Chick-fil-A sandwich or nugget, know that a great deal of care and effort went into bringing that tasty chicken from farm to restaurant table!
Selective about the chicken we serve
Serving quality food has always been our priority. Because chicken is at the center of our menu, we serve only real breast meat with no fillers, artificial preservatives, or steroids. Our chicken contains no added hormones (like all chicken in the United States) and is raised with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM). For more information, please click here. Additionally, we source our chicken from farms in the U.S. in accordance with our Animal Wellbeing Standards.
In 2016, Chick-fil-A communicated we would source only 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2026. Currently, our ability to meet this commitment in the stated timeframe is uncertain due to numerous industry dynamics and the significant impact the bird flu has had over the past several months and continues to have on our industry. We will continue to serve cage-free eggs where required to meet state specific legislation in the U.S., while ensuring eggs across all our Restaurants continue to be sourced from trusted suppliers who meet our strict quality standards. Learn more about our Animal Wellbeing Standards here.
Whether its offering more wholesome options, or simply removing unnecessary ingredients, we believe in better-for-you fast food. Were working toward a menu that achieves these goals and enhances your experience, while never sacrificing delicious taste.
Eating well on the go can be a challenge. That’s why we work hard to offer balanced options—from our classic menu items made with quality ingredients, to other menu items for the nutrition-minded, like the Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Kale Crunch Side.
Chick-fil-A sources real boneless breast of chicken with no added hormones, fillers or steroids, so its natural flavor shines. Were committed to serving chicken raised with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM).
Thrive Farmers®, a specialty-grade coffee company, supplies our coffee for our restaurants in Canada and U.S. Chick-fil-A Puerto Ricos coffee is sourced locally from Puerto Rico Coffee Roasters.
Real food, rigorous standards
In our kitchens, we focus on freshly prepared food crafted with quality ingredients. We serve chicken made from breast meat, breaded by hand in-restaurant. Fresh produce is delivered to our kitchens several times a week. Salads are prepared throughout the day. Our regular Chick-fil-A® Lemonade is prepared daily with lemon juice, pure cane sugar and water.
What’s Really in the “Food” at Chick-fil-A?
FAQ
Where does Chick-fil-A get their chicken meat from?
Additionally, we source our chicken from farms in the U.S. in accordance with our Animal Wellbeing Standards.
Does Chick-fil-A chicken come from Tyson?
As it turns out, the very same Tyson Foods that manufactures our favorite dinosaur nuggets also manufactures chicken products for chains like Taco Bell, KFC, McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A.
Is Chick-fil-A a lab grown chicken?
No, Chick-fil-A does not currently use lab-grown chicken. They source 100% real, whole, boneless breast of chicken from farms in the United States. Their chicken is raised in climate-controlled barns and is cage-free, with no fillers, added hormones, or steroids.
What food distributor does Chick-fil-A use?