Technology is changing society and the world of fast food is no exception.
Now the restaurant experience could be completely different for customers.
And Chick-fil-A is making one groundbreaking move that will revolutionize the way you eat chicken.
Fast food restaurants are increasingly trying to drive sales through online orders and mobile apps by luring customers in with loyalty rewards and discounts.
The rise of mobile ordering on apps could set the stage for an entirely new restaurant experience in the future.
Chick-fil-A opens a takeout-only restaurant in New York City
Chick-fil-A opened a new concept location in the Upper East Side of New York City.
The location has no dining area or seating and is focused exclusively on delivery and pickup orders made through the Chick-fil-A app or online.
“Designed for urban areas with heavy foot traffic, the restaurant is alerted by geofencing when the customer is on their way to expedite the process and ensure each meal is timed with their arrival. Status board screens inside the restaurant allow customers and delivery drivers to see when their orders are ready in real-time,” Chain Store Age reported.
The chain said that customers can still expect the same “warm hospitality and care” at the location.
For now, the concept will be confined to New York City, but with the growth of delivery and mobile sales, it’s possible it could spread to the rest of the country.
Cutting out the dining area would allow a restaurant to operate out of a smaller storefront; therefore, significantly reducing their overhead costs as real estate, especially commercial real estate in more populated areas, has skyrocketed in cost in recent years.
“At Chick-fil-A, we are always looking for ways to innovate and enhance the Guest experience,” Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s Senior Principal Design Lead, Nathaniel Cates, said “While digital concepts are becoming more prevalent, it’s important that we evolve in a uniquely Chick-fil-A way – meeting the changing needs of our customers without compromising the signature service and care they’ve grown to know and love.”
Change coming to Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru this summer
Chick-fil-A is famous for being able to quickly move customers through the massive drive-thru lines that form at its locations.
Now, the chain is working on making its service even faster by testing a four-lane drive-thru underneath the kitchen in Atlanta and New York City.
One of the lanes would be dedicated to picking up mobile orders while the others would be for traditional ordering from an employee.
“By building the kitchen above the drive-thru lanes, meals are expedited to the Team Member who delivers the order directly to the customer in a space protected by the upper level, so hospitality won’t be sacrificed for speed of service,” a Chick-fil-A news release stated.
Chick-fil-A is trying to bring its legendary customer service and restaurant experience into the digital age.