Since its founding in 1946, fast-food chicken chain Chick-fil-A has remained closed on Sundays, and according to CEO Andrew Cathy, that policy will not be changing anytime soon."So it was open 24 hours a day, six days a week, and it was very common back in the 1940s that a lot of places were closed on Sunday," Cathy told NBC's "Today" co-anchor Craig Melvin in an interview."And so they wanted to do that.They wanted to have a chance to take a break … go to church, and for others just to take some rest."CHICK-FIL-A IS ONE OF AMERICA'S TOUGHEST FRANCHISES, AND THE STARTUP COST MAY SHOCK YOUHe noted that employees seem to appreciate the policy, and they like knowing that they’re guaranteed one day off every week.Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy said he has never calculated how much money the chain could be losing by remaining closed on Sundays.
(Paras Griffin/Getty Images)Cathy, who has been Chick-fil-A’s CEO for the past five years, said he’s never considered how much revenue the chain might be missing out on by remaining closed on Sundays."And that’s being truthfully honest with you, I never have because it’s never something that we’re entertaining.It’s just too important for us," he said.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERHe noted that it’s a benefit of being a private, family-owned business that they can choose to continue implementing a policy that’s not maximizing sales.However, with an average annual sales volume of $9,161,239 in 2025, Chick-fil-A outperformed multiple major fast-food chains including Wendy’s and Burger King — despite being open six days a week.The fast-food chain has long stood out for closing all of its restaurants on Sundays, a policy the CEO says isn't going anywhere.
(iStock)The company receives about 150,000 franchise applications each year, Cathy told "Today." Chick-fil-A opened 179 franchises and company-operated outlets in 2025, according to QSR Magazine, reaching 2,863 locations total.CLICK HERE FOR...