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Chick-fil-A CEO Talks Portion Sizes, Prices, Staying Family-Owned
Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy is opening up about the decisions shaping one of America’s biggest fast-food chains, addressing everything from rising menu prices and portion sizes to faith, family ownership, and the company’s history of controversy.
In his first-ever broadcast interview, Cathy sat down with TODAY’s Craig Melvin for a wide-ranging conversation about the brand’s future, its commitment to hospitality, and the challenges of expanding while maintaining the traditions that have defined the business for decades.
The interview, aired October 14, 2026, also revisited Chick-fil-A’s response to criticism over LGBTQ+ rights, an issue that has followed the company for years.
Chick-fil-A Says It Won’t Shrink Portions to Cut Costs
With consumers increasingly concerned about the cost of eating out, Melvin asked Cathy about pricing and whether Chick-fil-A had reduced portion sizes while charging customers the same amount, a practice commonly known as shrinkflation.
Cathy said the company had not taken that approach and emphasized that customers should continue receiving the products and portions they expect.
“We’re not going to do that,” Cathy said, explaining that Chick-fil-A intends to maintain its established portions and product quality.
His comments come as fast-food chains face pressure to demonstrate value while managing higher operating costs and changing customer spending habits. Cathy did not announce a broad price reduction during the interview, but he reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering the experience customers associate with the brand.
Faith Remains Central to the Family-Owned Business
Cathy, the grandson of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, said the family’s Christian faith continues to guide its business philosophy.
The chain has maintained its longstanding policy of closing restaurants on Sundays, a practice established by its founder to give employees time to rest, spend time with family, or worship if they choose.
Cathy said the policy remains important even though staying closed means giving up a day of potential sales. He explained that private, family ownership allows the company to make decisions based on its priorities rather than focusing exclusively on maximizing revenue.
Founded by his grandfather, Chick-fil-A has grown from a small Atlanta restaurant into a major fast-food chain with nearly 2,900 locations and close to $24 billion in sales.
Cathy Responds to Questions About LGBTQ+ Rights
One of the most closely watched portions of the interview concerned Chick-fil-A’s history of controversy over LGBTQ+ rights.
In 2012, Cathy’s father and former CEO, Dan Cathy, publicly expressed opposition to same-sex marriage. The company also faced criticism over donations to organizations whose policies or positions were viewed as hostile to LGBTQ+ people.
Craig Melvin asked the current CEO about the company’s official position on equal rights and what he would say to people who had boycotted the chain.
Andrew Cathy emphasized hospitality and the company’s desire to serve everyone who visits its restaurants.
“I think that everybody that will be willing to walk in the door, they’ll see that they’re welcome to come eat with us,” he said.
When Melvin pressed him about whether he wanted to discuss that chapter of the company’s history, Cathy returned to the message that the business is focused on serving all customers.
He did not directly state a formal company position on LGBTQ+ equal rights during the exchange. Chick-fil-A announced in 2019 that its charitable giving would focus on organizations working in education, homelessness, and hunger.
Protein Demand and Future Menu Options
Cathy also discussed how changing consumer habits are influencing the restaurant industry, including the growing use of GLP-1 medications for weight management.
He said one trend the company has observed is increased interest in protein-rich food. According to Cathy, Chick-fil-A offers more than 28 menu items containing over 25 grams of protein.
The CEO also addressed the possibility of expanding beyond chicken. The company previously tested a cauliflower sandwich, but Cathy said customer demand was not strong enough to continue with that offering.
He indicated that Chick-fil-A would continue watching consumer preferences and considering future options rather than committing to a plant-based menu expansion without sufficient demand.
International Growth Without Giving Up Family Ownership
Chick-fil-A has expanded beyond its traditional U.S. stronghold, opening restaurants in markets including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.
Cathy said the company intends to continue growing while preserving its family-owned structure and focus on customer service. The business opens approximately 150 restaurants annually and receives around 150,000 applications from people interested in becoming franchise operators, according to the interview.
For Cathy, the challenge is not simply expanding the chain but maintaining the culture that helped build it.
His conversation with Melvin offered a look at how Chick-fil-A plans to navigate rising consumer costs, evolving food preferences, international expansion, and long-running public debates while holding on to the traditions that distinguish the brand.
Source: TODAY
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