The Surprising Connection Between The Ford Motor Company And Chick-Fil-A

Chick-fil-A is an old favorite when it comes to fast food for consumers across the United States. According to the chain's website, its history is rich and intriguing in more ways than one. A description on the site offers a sneak peek into the brand's mission. It reads, "Serving a breaded, boneless chicken breast between two buttered buns is a seemingly simple idea — but it was a novelty for its time. Truett Cathy experimented for years at the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, GA when in 1964, he finally arrived at the perfect recipe."

While it is true that Chick-fil-A has racked up several achievements over the years, its journey was not always smooth or easy. For example, in the early 1980s, the company was struggling to build an identity of its own while standing up to heavyweights such as McDonald's (via Business Insider). The brand was forced to confront a dilemma: expanding its presence while trying to make a profit and earn back the money that the company had invested in its restaurants. Thankfully, they managed to overcome the obstacles they faced and emerged stronger from the ordeal.

Additionally, Chick-fil-A has had some rather interesting encounters that have helped the brand along on its journey to solidify its presence. One such example is its old association with Ford Motor Company.

According to The Daily Meal, Chick-fil-A's Dwarf Grill was once located in close proximity to the Ford Motor Company's Atlanta factory. This turned out to be a boon for Chick-fil-A, as many of the staff members from the factory would turn to the chain for food during their lunch hours, providing the restaurant with much-needed support and publicity. 

But this alliance became much more meaningful than you'd think. Chick-fil-A's founder, Truett Cathy, loved cars and seeing his regular clients from the Ford factory motivated him to form an alliance with the brand later. According to Business Insider, Cathy came up with a car reward service for the best franchisees in association with Ford. Former Chick-fil-A President, Jimmy Collins, praised the program in 2016 and said,"I think today we can look back and say this helped to build the business, this helped to get operators make their stores more successful." And there you have it! Chick-fil-A and Ford's alliance has certainly withstood the test of time.