To whom does Chick Fil A have the proprietary seasoning shipped?
Chick_Fil_A Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
estimated with certainty for your franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant business.
Item 8
RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Approved Supplies and Suppliers: Chick-fil-A has an interest in the proprietary seasoning used in the preparation of certain Chick-fil-A brand chicken products. Chick-fil-A purchases the seasoning from the producers of the seasoning and has it shipped directly to Chick-fil-A's authorized or approved poultry suppliers. These poultry suppliers then apply the seasoning to most of the chicken products sold to the Operators. Payments to Chick-fil-A for the proprietary seasoning are received from the poultry supplier when the chicken is sold to Chick-fil-A's authorized distributor(s). Currently, Chick-fil-A is receiving payments of approximately $.06 per pound of seasoned chicken, which amount includes a payment to Chick-fil-A for its proprietary interest in the seasoning, and which amount may vary and otherwise change due to among other things food costs and product initiatives.
Chick-fil-A also has an interest in the proprietary seasoned coater used in the preparation of most Chick-fil-A brand chicken products. The seasoned coater is purchased by Chick-fil-A from the producer and is shipped directly to Chick-fil-A's authorized distributor(s). Payments to Chick-fil-A for the proprietary seasoned coater are received from the distributor(s) of the seasoned coater when the seasoned coater is purchased by the distributor(s) from Chick-fil-A. The distributor(s) then sells the seasoned coater to the Operators. Your cost for the seasoned coater depends on a pricing formula that includes a markup by Chick-fil-A that may change. Based upon the cost of ingredients to Chick-fil-A (including any freight charges paid to the producer) your cost will fluctuate.
Our affiliate CFA Supply is a distributor approved to carry food products, ingredients, and supplies for franchised, licensed, and company and affiliate owned Chick-fil-A Restaurants. CFA Supply may be the only approved primary distributor serving the geographic area in which it operates. CFA Supply began operations in July 2019. If your franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant is in a location CFA Supply services, your cost for the food products, ingredients, and supplies depends on a pricing formula CFA Supply determines in the exercise of its sole and exclusive business judgment that includes, among other factors, a distribution fee and an allowance for fuel and freight costs from the CFA Supply warehouse to the Chick-fil-A Restaurants it will supply.
Our affiliate Bay Center produces Chick-fil-A branded lemon juice that is a proprietary principal ingredient used to produce proprietary Chick-fil-A branded lemonade. Bay Center is an approved supplier to supply lemon juice to Chick-fil-A Restaurants in geographic areas 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. The lemon juice is purchased by Chick-fil-A's authorized distributor(s) from Bay Center and is shipped by Bay Center directly to Chick-fil-A's authorized distributor(s). The distributor(s) pays Bay Center for the proprietary lemon juice when the lemon juice is purchased by the distributor(s). The distributor(s) then sells the lemon juice to the Operators.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 43–49)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chick Fil A's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the company purchases its proprietary seasoning from the seasoning producers and then has it shipped directly to Chick Fil A's authorized or approved poultry suppliers. These suppliers are responsible for applying the seasoning to the majority of the chicken products that are then sold to the Operators.
Chick Fil A also has an interest in the proprietary seasoned coater used in the preparation of most Chick-fil-A brand chicken products. The seasoned coater is purchased by Chick-fil-A from the producer and is shipped directly to Chick-fil-A's authorized distributor(s).
As a Chick Fil A franchisee, you must purchase all food and drink items, non-food inventory, ingredients, mixes, spices, and containers from suppliers approved in advance by Chick Fil A. Chick Fil A retains the right to modify supplier requirements as the system evolves and may designate themselves or their affiliates as the sole supplier for certain products. In 2024, Chick Fil A's consolidated revenues from Operator and Licensee purchases of proprietary seasoning and seasoned coater, among other items, was $1,778,691,073, representing 19.63% of their total consolidated revenues.