Bristol’s Newest Chick-fil-A Restaurant Opening Oct. 6;

First 100 in Line at New Restaurant to Win Free Year’s Supply of Chick-fil-A

New Restaurant on Lee Highway Brings 80 New Jobs as Chick-fil-A Continues to Grow Across the Country

Bristol, Va. (Oct. 6, 2011) – A quarter century after Chick-fil-A® grew from its shopping mall locations to open its first stand-alone restaurant, the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain will continue to make its award-winning drive-thru service and freshly prepared menu items more convenient when it opens its newest Bristol location on Oct. 6, and will award a free year’s supply of Chick-fil-A to the first 100 adults in line that morning.

Eight years after it debuted at an Arizona grand opening, Chick-fil-A’s First 100 celebration ushers in each grand opening around the country. The parking lot party draws from miles around Chick-fil-A’s loyal customers who come equipped with couches, TVs, computers, tents and other gear as they count down to the newest restaurant opening. Extreme weather conditions don’t dampen the enthusiasm of the participants who often arrive more than 24 hours in advance.

A similar scene is expected in Bristol where Chick-fil-A will award a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A® Meals (52 certificates) to each of the first 100 adults in line, age 18 and older with identification, at the restaurant located at

3483 Lee Highway. The line officially opens at 6 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, with the free meal cards being awarded Thursday, Oct. 6, sometime between 6 a.m. and 6:10 a.m. The restaurant will open for business immediately thereafter. If there are more than 100 people by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, all 100 spots will be determined by a raffle. See http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/First-100 for complete rules.

The opening of the first stand-alone Chick-fil-A in Bristol comes 25 years after the chain first moved from the malls, where it helped to pioneer the in-mall food concept, to the street with the opening of its first stand-alone restaurant in its hometown of Atlanta in 1986. With 90 restaurant openings planned in 2011, Chick-fil-A will reach 1,000 stand-alone locations in addition to the restaurants it operates in shopping malls and at licensed locations such as universities and airports.

Continuing to expand despite the country’s economic challenges, Chick-fil-A in 2010 opened 80 new restaurants, creating nearly 4,500 new jobs, and expanded into metro Chicago where restaurants opened to record-breaking sales. The chain anticipates creating another 5,000 new jobs in 2011.

After reaching $3 billion in sales for the first time in 2009, Chick-fil-A continued the positive trend in 2010 reporting that sales topped $3.58 billion. Marking Chick-fil-A’s 43rd year of consecutive growth, last year’s sales represented an 11.37 percent overall and 5.92 percent same-store performance over the chain’s sales performance the previous year.

“We are thrilled to continue expanding and responding to the requests of our loyal customers to bring Chick-fil-A closer to where they live,” said Dan T. Cathy, President and COO, Chick-fil-A, Inc. “As we enter new regions and grow in established markets, we are grateful for our outstanding franchised Operators and their team members who provide the freshly prepared food and excellent service on both sides of the counter. Their efforts keep our customers coming back again and again.”

The First 100 event rewards and celebrates that loyalty with a 24-hour campout in the restaurant parking lot that includes music, contests, games, entertainment and, of course, plenty of Chick-fil-A. Since the event began in 2003, Chick-fil-A has given away more than $13 million in free food at its restaurant grand openings, with nearly $2.3 million slated to be awarded to First 100 participants in 2011.

This year marks 65 years since founder Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant, the Dwarf Grill, in Hapeville, Ga., in 1946. It was there that Cathy, who celebrated his 90th birthday in March, perfected his recipe for a boneless-breast-of-chicken sandwich which became the signature menu item when he opened his first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta in 1967. From the very beginning, Cathy’s focus on freshly prepared menu items and superior customer service have been hallmarks of the chain as it has grown to more than 1,587 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C.

Operator Ray Parlier will continue to extend that legacy as franchised Operator of the new Bristol restaurant.  Parlier has been the Operator at the Bristol Mall location for 12 years. With a teaching degree from East Tennessee State University, his true passion became clear a little over 16 years ago when he decided to work for Chick-fil-A. Parlier reached his goal of becoming an Operator and his hard work and success have been acknowledged with the Symbol of Success Award – the highest honor for Chick-fil-A Operators. He and his wife Shirley, along with their two children, are looking forward to continuing to serve the Bristol community.

“Chick-fil-A may have grown to be the second-largest chicken restaurant chain in the country, but our ideals today are no different than those Truett Cathy exemplified when he started Chick-fil-A 43 years ago,” said Parlier.  “We want our customers to enjoy our freshly prepared food in the same friendly neighborhood environment he created.”

With the 1986 opening of its first stand-alone restaurant came Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru service which has become an industry leader, topping studies for six years running. In the most recent QSR magazine Drive-Thru Performance Study, Chick-fil-A ranked number one overall in the survey which measured order accuracy, speed of service, menu board appearance and speaker clarity.

The new Bristol Chick-fil-A features a 4,275-square-foot interior that seats 138 with additional outdoor seating.  The restaurant has warm colors and wood accents and a convenient, award-winning drive-thru. Children will enjoy an indoor play area featuring an interactive section for toddlers. It is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving a full breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m. The chain recently added a Multigrain Oatmeal that is slow-cooked in kettles to retain nutritional value. It comes with a choice of three toppings including cinnamon brown sugar, roasted mixed nuts or dried fruit blend.

Sensitive to rising health concerns, especially among children, Chick-fil-A offers a completely artificially trans fat-free menu and was among the first national quick-service restaurant chains to do so. At no extra charge, parents may substitute a small fruit cup for Waffle Potato Fries® included in Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals®.

In the October 2011 issue of Men’s Health, the publication discussed America’s Best and Worst Restaurants. It named Chick-fil-A as the best chicken chain. While touting the Chick-fil-A’s healthier menu, the magazine stated, “Chick-fil-A ranks among the best of the country’s major fast-food establishments, thanks to a line of low-calorie chicken sandwiches and an impressive roster of healthy sides.”

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Truett Cathy developed the original Chick-fil-A boneless breast of chicken sandwich in his 24-hour Dwarf House® diner near Atlanta in the early 1960s, and he opened his first Chick-fil-A® restaurant in Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall in 1967. Since then, the chain has grown to include more than 1,590 locations in 39 states and Washington, D.C. In 2010, Chick-fil-A, Inc. posted more than $3.58 billion in system-wide sales, marking its 43rd consecutive year of sales growth. The chain plans to add 90 locations this year, including 75 stand-alone, drive-through and in-line restaurants, and 15 licensed outlets in non-traditional locations such as college campuses. This year, the chain also will spend millions in reinvestment dollars on existing business markets to remodel and re-design more than 200 of its existing locations across the country. More information about Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s websites, located at www.chick-fil-a.com, www.facebook.com/chick-fil-a, www.chick-fil-a.com/pressroom or www.truettcathy.com.

CHICK-FIL-A AT BRISTOL COPY POINTS

Below are copy points for the opening of the first stand-alone Chick-fil-A® restaurant in Bristol, Va:

Chick-fil-A will open its first stand-alone restaurant on Oct. 6 in Bristol at 3483 Lee Highway. Franchised Operator Ray Parlier will award a free, one-year supply of Chick-fil-A meals to the first 100 adults in line at the new restaurant.

The first 100 adults in line by 6 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 at the new Bristol Chick-fil-A restaurant each will receive 52 free Chick-fil-A meal certificates for a year -- a total of more than $26,000 in free food being given away.Participants, 18 years and older with identification, can line up no earlier than 24 hours prior to the opening. In the event that there are more than 100 people by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, all 100 spots will be determined by a raffle. See http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/First-100 for complete rules.

Since the First 100 promotion began in October 2003, Chick-fil-A has given away more than $13 million in free food. Chick-fil-A will award nearly $2 million in free food this year to the first 100 people in line at its openings.

The new Chick-fil-A restaurant will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, offering a trans fat-free menu that includes breakfast served daily until 10:30 a.m. and features a variety of items such as fruit cups, breakfast burritos, bagel sandwiches, yogurt parfaits and its signature Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit.

The lunch and dinner menu will be served until closing and features award-winning items such as the original boneless breast-of-chicken sandwich, made-from-scratch salads and wraps, and a line of hand-spun milkshakes available in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cookies & cream.

Chick-fil-A has eliminated artificial trans fat from its entire menu and was among the first national quick-service restaurant chains to offer a complete menu – from entrées down to condiments – with zero grams of trans fat.

Chick-fil-A continues to earn the highest of accolades from the quick-service industry in quality of food and excellence in customer service:

Zagat’s – Named Chick-fil-A Top Large Chain in its September 2011 National Fast Food Survey of 6,000 customers and ranked it first in service and the chargrilled sandwich category. The chain ranked second in food, child-friendly, drive-thru service and facilities.

Consumer Reports – Named Chick-fil-A the nation’s top chicken chain in its August 2011 Quick Service Restaurant survey of 36,000 readers. Topping seven other chicken chains, Chick-fil-A posted outstanding scores for politeness of staff, and high marks for food, value, and speed of service.

Men’s Health –  Chick-fil-A once again received high marks(A-) and was named as one of top two fast-food chains (Subway #1) for healthier menu options in its “Eat This, Not That” 2012 edition. “Chick-fil-A ranks among the best of the country’s major fast-food establishments, thanks to a line of low-calorie chicken sandwiches and an impressive roster of healthy sides,” the magazine stated in its October 2011 issue.”

QSR Magazine – Ranked Chick-fil-A number one six times out of the 12-year history of its Drive-Thru Performance study that followed 20 quick-service restaurants for three months. A recent QSR article stated “…it’s clear that growing chicken concept Chick-fil-A is the gold standard in drive-thru service and customer experience.”

Chick-fil-A in July added a new Multigrain Oatmeal that is slow-cooked in kettles to retain nutritional value.  The combination of steel-cut oats, rolled oats, flax, buckwheat flour and whole wheat flour can be coupled with one of three toppings that feature cinnamon brown sugar, roasted mixed nuts or a dried fruit blend.

The new Bristol Chick-fil-A is one of 90 Chick-fil-A restaurants opening this year across the country -- generating more than 5,000 new jobs. Despite the nation’s economic challenges, Chick-fil-A continues to expand with the chain achieving its 43rd year of consecutive sales increases in 2010 with sales topping $3.58 billion.

The Chick-fil-A chain continues to make education a priority and offers one of the industry’s more aggressive scholarship programs. Virginia has received more than $1.3 million out of the more than $28.1 million awarded since the program was created in 1973, with another $1.6 million to be given this year to team members.

Truett Cathy, a restaurateur for 65 years, opened the first Chick-fil-A location in 1967 in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall. The company has now entered its third generation of family involvement in the business. Chick-fil-A is credited with inventing the boneless breast-of-chicken sandwich and pioneering in-mall fast food. The chain has grown to more than 1,590 locations in 39 states and Washington, D.C.

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