Americans love their fast-food and, for about a decade, Chick-fil-A ruled the roost. But whether it was the decision to ease its no-antibiotics-ever policy, its stance on social issues or just fickle consumer tastes, the chain finds itself dropping in the pecking order.
A recent USA Today readers poll to determine the 10 best fast-food chains found Chick-fil-A at the No. 3 spot.
The list, starting with No. 1:
- Del Taco
- KFC
- Chick-fil-A
- In-N-Out Burger
- Hardee’s
- Captain D’s
- Taco Bell
- Popeyes
- Zaxby’s
- Arby’s
Del Taco offers a variety of Mexican fare as well as burgers and fries. Another key factor in that chain’s ascent:
Del Taco offers vegan and vegetarian options – something that’s still hard to find in the fast-food landscape.
Founded in 1964 in Yermo, California, Del Taco has grown to become the second-largest Mexican-American QSR chain in the U.S., with 600 restaurants in 16 states. It’s owned by Jack in the Box, which has had tacos on its menu for decades. Jack in the Box, which has 2,200 burger outlets in 22 states, bought Del Taco in 2022.
Taco Bell, by comparison, has 7,980 locations across 51 states and territories.
Chick-fil-A this past spring eased its no-antibiotics-ever policy to no antibiotics important to human medicine, prompting criticism from health professionals and calls for boycotts, Fast Company reported.
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported Chick-fil-A became a victim of the culture wars last year, suffering backlash from conservatives who accused the company of being “woke” for its diversity, equity and inclusion policy. Earlier, the company came under attack from liberals for its stances on LGBTQ+ and other issues.
Barclays bank reported last year that both Popeyes and Chick-fil-A were creeping up on KFC, which saw its market share fall to 11.3% in 2023 from more than 16% the previous year.
Business Insider reporter Pascale Mondesir did head-to-head comparisons of KFC and Chick-fil-A meals, concluding KFC’s offerings overall were better.
“I very much preferred the mac-and-cheese and sweet tea from Chick-fil-A. But when it comes down to the tenders, sandwiches and cookies, KFC wins this competition,” Mondesir wrote. “The chicken tenders had great crispiness and flavor, the sandwich was filling, and the cookie was simple and just plain tasty.”
The U.S. fast-food industry reached $387.5 billion in 2023, according to Statista. That’s up from $382 billion in 2022 and $230.3 billion in 2012.
The Food Institute Podcast
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