FDD ITEM 20 · FISCAL 2013–2015
Chick-fil-A Operator Program Item 20: outlets, exits & growth
In its latest FDD Item 20 (fiscal 2015, from the 2016 FDD · 9+ years old), Chick-fil-A Operator Program reported 1,646 franchised outlets at year end. 12 of 1,553 franchised outlets open at the start of the year left the system (exit rate 0.8%, fiscal 2015), while 172 new outlets opened. Systemwide units moved +11.3% over 2013–2015.
| Status (FTC) | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlets at start | 1,430 | 1,507 | 1,595 |
| Opened | 155 | 168 | 172 |
| Transfers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terminations | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-renewals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reacquired by franchisor | 63 | 72 | 67 |
| Ceased — other reasons | 13 | 8 | 12 |
| Outlets at end | 1,507 | 1,595 | 1,677 |
| Net change | +77 | +88 | +82 |
0 terminations + 0 non-renewals + 12 ceased (other) = 12 exits ÷ 1,553 at start = 0.8%
These are the three FTC Item 20 statuses in which a franchised outlet left the system — including voluntary non-renewals and outlets that ceased for other reasons, which can include sales or absorption into another franchise. Transfers (0) are resales, not exits; reacquisitions by the franchisor (67) are tracked separately. There is no official “failure rate”, and not every exit is a closure or a failure; Item 20 does not say why any outlet left. On a small starting base, a single exit moves this rate sharply.
| State | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 262 | 4 |
| GA | 172 | 1 |
| FL | 160 | 3 |
| NC | 125 | 2 |
| VA | 97 | 2 |
| CA | 79 | 0 |
| SC | 74 | 1 |
| AL | 62 | 2 |
| MD | 61 | 0 |
| TN | 59 | 0 |
| PA | 54 | 2 |
| CO | 40 | 1 |
| OH | 40 | 1 |
| LA | 29 | 0 |
| AZ | 28 | 0 |
| NJ | 28 | 2 |
| OK | 28 | 1 |
| IN | 27 | 1 |
| IL | 25 | 1 |
| MO | 25 | 0 |
| KY | 23 | 0 |
| MS | 22 | 0 |
| AR | 20 | 0 |
| UT | 20 | 3 |
| WV | 15 | 0 |
| KS | 11 | 0 |
| IA | 10 | 2 |
| DE | 8 | 0 |
| NM | 7 | 0 |
| ID | 5 | 0 |
| MN | 5 | — |
| CT | 4 | — |
| MA | 4 | 0 |
| NE | 4 | — |
| WA | 3 | — |
| WI | 3 | 1 |
| NH | 2 | 0 |
| NY | 2 | — |
| DC | 1 | — |
| RI | 1 | — |
| WY | 1 | 1 |
The Chick-fil-A Operator Program validation checklist
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