Chick-fil-A Values: Corporate Purpose and Core Principles Explained

Chick-fil-A operates on four core values—We're Here to Serve, We're Better Together, We Are Purpose-Driven, and We Pursue What's Next—alongside a Corporate Purpose established in 1982 that references glorifying God and creating positive influence.

Chick-fil-A's Corporate Purpose

The foundation of everything Chick-fil-A does traces back to a two-part statement:

"To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."

S. Truett Cathy, who founded the company in 1946, formalized this Corporate Purpose in 1982. He believed Biblical principles were also good business principles. That philosophy still guides the company today, even as it's grown to over 2,000 locations.

What's interesting is how explicitly faith-based this statement is for a major restaurant chain. Most fast-food companies avoid religious language in their corporate materials. Chick-fil-A doesn't.

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The Four Core Values of Chick-fil-A

These values appear on the company's official career and culture pages. They're meant to reflect the Corporate Purpose across all operations.

1. We're Here to Serve

The company states this value keeps "the needs of our people and our customers at the heart of our work, doing what is best for the business and best for them."

In practice, this refers to Owner-Operators (franchise owners), their Team Members (employees), and Guests (customers). The stated goal is balancing business success with genuine service to people.

2. We're Better Together

Chick-fil-A describes this as creating "an inclusive culture that leverages the strengths of our diverse talent to innovate and maximize our care for each other."

This value emphasizes teamwork and collaboration. At first glance, this seems like standard corporate speak. But the company does structure operations around highly collaborative environments, particularly at their Atlanta Support Center.

3. We Are Purpose-Driven

According to Chick-fil-A, this means they "model our Purpose every day, and supporting each other's efforts to be good stewards who create a positive impact."

This directly connects daily work back to that 1982 Corporate Purpose. Employees are expected to see their jobs as part of fulfilling a larger mission, not just serving chicken sandwiches.

4. We Pursue What's Next

The company defines this as finding "energy in adapting and reinventing how we do things, from the way we work to how we care for others."

This is the innovation value. It covers everything from menu development to customer service improvements to workplace policies.

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How Chick-fil-A's Values Shape Company Culture

The "Culture of Care"

Chick-fil-A repeatedly uses this phrase across their communications. They define it as a commitment to treating everyone—employees, franchise operators, customers—with honor, dignity, and respect.

The company claims their policies, practices, and benefits all support this goal. They offer a benefits package designed to help families connect and thrive. The Support Center sits on 73 wooded acres with spaces for different work styles, wellness facilities, and subsidized childcare.

Whether individual locations actually embody this "culture of care" varies. With over 2,000 franchises, each operated by different Owner-Operators, consistency isn't guaranteed.

Sunday Closures

Every Chick-fil-A location closes on Sundays. This policy has existed since the company's founding.

The stated reason: allow operators and team members to rest, spend time with family, and worship if they choose. That last part—"if they choose"—is notable. The company doesn't require employees to be religious, just provides the option.

This Sunday closure is probably the most visible manifestation of Chick-fil-A values. It costs the company revenue. Most fast-food restaurants see strong Sunday sales. Chick-fil-A deliberately opts out.

The "My Pleasure" Service Standard

Instead of "you're welcome," Chick-fil-A employees say "my pleasure."

The origin story: Truett Cathy visited a Ritz-Carlton where an employee responded to his thanks with "my pleasure." He liked how special it made him feel and asked his teams to adopt the phrase.

This small detail reflects the service-focused value. It's a specific, trainable behavior that supposedly embodies a larger principle about treating customers well.

Chick-fil-A's Workplace Values and Benefits

The company positions itself as an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. Employment decisions are supposedly based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

This creates an interesting tension. The Corporate Purpose explicitly mentions glorifying God. But the company also commits to hiring people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

In practice, this means:

• Non-Christian employees work at Chick-fil-A

• The faith-based purpose guides corporate culture

• Individual employees aren't required to share those beliefs

• The workplace is meant to be inclusive regardless of personal faith

At the Support Center, the company emphasizes collaboration, connection, and professional development. They offer one-on-one meetings, department gatherings, and opportunities to work directly in restaurants to understand operations.

Biblical Principles in Business Operations

What does "Biblical principles as business principles" actually mean?

Chick-fil-A hasn't published a detailed list. Based on their public statements and

policies, it appears to include:

• Treating people with dignity and respect

• Stewardship (managing resources responsibly)

• Rest and Sabbath observance (Sunday closures)

• Service to others

• Creating positive influence in communities

The company participates in community giving through programs like Chick-fil-A Shared Table, which donates surplus food to local nonprofits. They've contributed over 30 million meals to date through this program.

Whether these actions stem from biblical teaching or just good business practice is debatable. Many non-religious companies also donate to communities and treat employees well.

Values Versus Practice: What to Know

Here's what often gets overlooked: stated corporate values and actual workplace experiences don't always align perfectly.

Chick-fil-A, Inc. publishes these values. But individual restaurants are operated by independent Owner-Operators who own just one location. They're small business owners with significant autonomy.

This structure means:

• Corporate can set guidelines and expectations

• Individual operators implement them with varying degrees of consistency

• Employee experiences differ by location

• Some restaurants embody the values strongly; others may not

The company doesn't publish metrics on how well locations follow these values or how they measure success in living them out. We have corporate statements about goals, not data about outcomes.

Employee study materials (like Quizlet flashcards used for training) sometimes list different values: Customer First, Personal Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Working Together, and Stewardship. This suggests possible variation between corporate-level values and restaurant-level operational principles.

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Conclusion

Chick-fil-A values center on a faith-based Corporate Purpose and four core principles emphasizing service, collaboration, purpose, and innovation. Sunday closures and the "my pleasure" standard demonstrate these values practically, though implementation varies across franchise locations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chick-fil-A Values

What is Chick-fil-A's Corporate Purpose?

"To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A." This statement was established in 1982.

Is Chick-fil-A a religious company?

Chick-fil-A was founded on Biblical principles and maintains a Corporate Purpose that references glorifying God. The company describes itself as faith-based while also being an equal opportunity employer serving diverse customers.

Why is Chick-fil-A closed on Sundays?

Company policy since founding allows employees to rest, spend time with family, and optionally worship. This applies to all locations and reflects founder S. Truett Cathy's values.

Do Chick-fil-A employees have to be Christian?

No. Chick-fil-A is an equal opportunity employer making hiring decisions based on qualifications and merit, not religious affiliation. The Corporate Purpose is faith-based but the workforce is diverse.

What does "culture of care" mean at Chick-fil-A?

The company's stated commitment to treating everyone with honor, dignity, and respect. This applies to employees, franchise operators, and customers, supported through policies and benefits packages.