Tag Archives: Business

Lessons from Fast-food

Say what you will about the fast food industry but it still remains one of the strongest and most profitable industries in the troubled economy. People line up daily to get their fill of cholesterol, fat, and carbohydrates. Sadly, on some occasions, I am right there with them.

As I was standing in line a couple of days ago to purchase my chicken sandwich, I started thinking to myself, “Why are these places so successful?” That lead me to today’s article.

My main focus will be on a truly successful chain named, “Chick-fil-a.” Why? Because they do things a little differently than most and in truth, their profits continue to climb. But before I do, let me offer three generalities that all of the big players seem to have.

Generalities to the Industry

  1. Cleaver advertisement and media coverage.
  2. Recognized branding.
  3. Consistency throughout company.

Specifics to Chick-fil-a

Chick-Fil-A's signature chicken sandwich

  1. Quality food including low-fat choices
  2. Polite service. It is not unusual to hear, “My pleasure,” when being served.
  3. Community involvement. They don’t just throw cash as causes, they get involved.
  4. The main thing is the main thing. Although the company has expanded its menu over the years, the main thing for them is and will continue to be the chicken sandwich. They don’t muddy the waters with burgers or dogs. There is a key business lesson there.

Okay, so as you can see…my lunch trip has given me much to think about. I hope you now have something to “chew” over too.

Wishing you much success in 2012.

Dr. Keith

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