Chick-fil-A launches its own streaming and entertainment app

You’ve heard of chick flicks… Now, though, Chick-fil-A is changing the meaning altogether. Yes, the rumors are true: America’s largest chicken-sandwich server is launching a streaming and entertainment service as of next month (which Hope King at Axios called “the modern-day equivalent of the Happy Meal toy”).

On Monday, the fast-food chain announced that its new free app will be available from November 18, complete with family-friendly shows, podcasts, recipes, and games designed to keep adults and kids occupied between waffle fries. Described by the company as “the ultimate digital playground,” Chick-fil-A Play will also feature original content, including episodes of the “Evergreen Hills” animated series that the company has spent the past five years fine-tuning.

Secret sauce

The obvious question to all of this is: why? Well, in part because it sells so many strips and nugs that it can effectively do whatever it wants. Last year, the company brought in $21.6 billion worth of sales — an almost 20-fold increase from two decades prior — across its ~3,000 restaurants. These astronomical figures are even more staggering considering that all Chick-fil-A outlets are closed on Sundays (in keeping with the brand’s well-reported conservative values). 

Indeed, the drive-thru aficionado has seen strong growth off the back of its unique business model. The company’s franchise system generally only allows for one location per owner, ensuring that operators aren’t spread too thin and helping to maintain their focus on customer service. Looking forward, Chick-fil-A’s ever-widening reach shows no signs of slowing, with the company also in the midst of a $1 billion global expansion into Europe and Asia.

Watch this space… Chick-fil-A’s move into entertainment is part of a new trend of companies making their own original content to communicate products and brand stories, following both Lyft and Airbnb making forays into media and the announcement of ‘Starbucks Studios’ in June.