Chick-fil-A has its sights on entering new markets. The popular fast-food chain is using 2026 as a bridge year to deepen its U.S. footprint in key states while laying the groundwork for a much larger international push into Europe and Asia by the end of the decade.
The Georgia-based company has publicly committed about $1 billion to international expansion in Europe and Asia, with a goal of establishing a solid foothold in those regions and reaching five international markets by 2030. Notably, Chick-fil-A opened its first location in Singapore on December 11. Local media reports were positive on the Asian debut of the franchised location.
Chick-fil-A also opened a restaurant in Leeds, England, in 2025. The UK will be a major focal point for the international expansion plan. Chick-fil-A is investing over $100 million there over 10 years, aiming for five locally owned restaurants in the first two years and broader nationwide build-out after that.
In the U.S., Chick-fil-A is taking a measured approach to growth. Chick-fil-A operated 3,355 locations across the United States as of November 2025, with Texas leading at 524 locations. Chick-fil-A: The chain has restaurants in 52 states and territories, with notable concentrations in Georgia (around 250 locations) and Florida (approximately 280 locations). Restaurant industry analysts expect more than 100 Chick-fil-A openings in 2026.
Chick-fil-A now ranks 10th in terms of total restaurant locations in the U.S. behind Subway, Starbucks (SBUX), McDonald’s (MCD), Dunkin’, Taco Bell (YUM), Domino’s (DPZ), Pizza Hut (YUM), Burger King (QSR), and Wendy’s (WEN). However, in terms of sales generated, Chick-fil-A ranks behind only McDonald’s (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX). Chick-fil-A competes directly in the quick-service chicken space against KFC (YUM), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (QSR), Church’s Chicken, Wingstop (WING), Raising Cane’s, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Zaxby’s, and Bojangles.
Will investors ever have a chance to invest in Chick-fil-A? The most difficult obstacle to a Chick-fil-A IPO is a contract that company founder Truett Cathy had his heirs sign before he died in 2014 that requires the company’s ownership to remain private. One of Cathy’s major goals was that the long-time Chick-fil-A commitment to being closed every Sunday would not face pressure from Wall Street and major investors to be reversed.