Friday, July 25, 2003

Chick-fil-A to debut new restaurant design

The new shopping development at Camp Creek Parkway will be the first location in metro Atlanta to debut Chick-fil-A's new free-standing design. Opening today, the new prototype features warmer interior colors, wood accents, and other changes intended to make the restaurant more efficient and the dining experience more pleasurable.

The new Chick-fil-A design reflects a more casual dining look to help further separate it from its quick-service competitors. Features include:

An all-brick exterior that is easier to maintain with a design that reflects a more friendly, neighborhood appearance.

Warmer, more inviting interiors in jewel tone colors and wood grain finishes.

Changes to the operational design that will result in more efficient function of the restaurant.

Operator Melissa Winkfield's success of operating Chick-fil-A's very first restaurant at Greenbriar Mall this past year has given her the opportunity to run the new free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant at Camp Creek Parkway. With more than 10 years of Chick-fil-A experience, Winkfield became the operator of the Greenbriar location in June 2002. She is a native Georgian with an accounting degree from DeVry Institute of Technology.

While customers at the new location will enjoy warmer, relaxing colors inside, they will find Chick-fil-A's commitment to freshly made, top-quality food remains unchanged. Customers will be able to visit the new Chick-fil-A starting at 6:30 a.m. when the restaurant opens with a full breakfast menu that includes the popular chicken biscuit. The restaurant stays open Monday through Saturday until 10 p.m.

Chick-fil-A is well-known for using the freshest ingredients available and handling its own menu preparation onsite. Chick-fil-A's closed-on-Sunday policy also stands out in the quick service restaurant industry.

Since Truett Cathy founded the company more than 46 years ago, the chain has maintained Sunday as a day off to allow employees to spend time with family and worship if they choose. The policy is one of several factors that attract quality employees to Chick-fil-A and helps the company maintain a retention rate that is significantly higher than the industry average.

While operators and their teams are devoted to customer service, Operators also are committed to their employees by becoming mentors to help them develop teamwork and leadership qualities. Employees are encouraged to pursue post-high school education and have the opportunity receive Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarships, which total nearly $1 million annually. Georgia has received more than $4.2 million out of the nearly $18 million awarded nationwide since 1973.

In 2002, Chick-fil-A achieved system-wide sales of $1.372 billion, a 10.54 percent increase over the company's 2001 sales and a 1.52 percent same-store sales increase. Last year's success resulted in Chick-fil-A's 35th consecutive year of sales increases. Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A is the third-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain with more than 1,100 restaurants in 37 states and Washington D.C. The chain expects to open 77 restaurants this year including 60 free-standing locations. Additional information about Chick-fil-A is located at www.chick-fil-a.com.