When did Bay Center Foods, LLC begin operations?
Chick_Fil_A Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Bay Center Foods, LLC ("Bay Center") is our affiliate. Bay Center is a Georgia limited liability company formed on December 14, 2018 under the name Bay Center, LLC. The name of the company was changed to Bay Center Foods, LLC on January 4, 2019. Bay Center's principal business address is 5200 Buffington Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30349-2998. Bay Center produces Chick-fil-A branded lemon juice that is a proprietary principal ingredient used to produce our proprietary Chick-fil-A branded lemonade. Bay Center is an approved supplier to supply lemon juice to Chick-fil-A Restaurants in geographic areas where it operates. Bay Center may be the only approved supplier of lemon juice for the geographic area where it operates. Bay Center began operations in 2020.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 7–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chick Fil A's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bay Center Foods, LLC, an affiliate of Chick-fil-A, started its operations in 2020. Bay Center is a Georgia limited liability company that was initially formed on December 14, 2018, under the name Bay Center, LLC, and later changed its name to Bay Center Foods, LLC on January 4, 2019.
Bay Center's primary business involves producing Chick-fil-A branded lemon juice, which is a key ingredient in Chick-fil-A's proprietary lemonade. As an approved supplier, Bay Center provides lemon juice to Chick-fil-A restaurants within its operational areas and may even be the sole approved supplier in those regions.
For a prospective Chick-fil-A franchisee, this information highlights the importance of supply chain management and the role of approved suppliers in maintaining product consistency and quality. It also demonstrates Chick-fil-A's vertical integration strategy, where affiliates like Bay Center contribute to the production of essential ingredients, potentially ensuring a stable and reliable supply for franchisees.