184 | Chick-fil-A is trying to get into your home, October 22, 2018

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/22/business/chick-fil-a-delivery-catering-strategy/index.html
https://archive.fo/ho18f

Chick-fil-A company opened up two prototype restaurants devoted exclusively to fulfilling delivery and catering orders. Over the summer, the company started testing out a meal kit service.  

The company believes people think about food the way they think about shopping: Why go to a store when you can order online? To stay ahead of that trend, Chick-fil-A is getting creative about how to reach people at home, work and parties — and it's miles ahead of the competition. 

"Our mission is to be convenient," said Luke Pipkin, who works on innovation within the company's Beyond the Restaurant team, which is dedicated to exploring off-premise opportunities like delivery, catering and meal kits. 

The new restaurants don't have dining rooms, so the locations have larger kitchens. They're also cash-free: Customers have to use DoorDash or a credit or debit card. Chick-fil-A encourages customers to order directly from its mobile app. And Chick-fil-A put the locations by highways and major roads in Nashville and Louisville to facilitate deliveries.

Chick-fil-A isn't alone: All fast food companies are trying to figure out ways to reach people at home and get more customers to use their apps. 

Nearly two-thirds of consumers say that more fast food restaurants should offer delivery and takeout options, according to research company Mintel. And 46% said that they'd be more inclined to pick up an order from a restaurant if there was a dedicated pick-up area. 

The company is moving slowly, for now. Meal kits are being offered for just a few months in Atlanta. Once the test ends, in mid-November, Chick-fil-A will decide if and how to move forward.

The company plans to open more catering- and delivery-only restaurants next year, Pipkin said.