Chick-fil-A is expanding, fueled by increasing average visits per location, and is outperforming QSR rivals on this metric, wrote foot traffic research firm Placer.ai in a recent report.

“Recent traffic data from September 2025 through February 2026 illustrates this efficient scaling, as total visits rose consistently year-over-year throughout the entire six-month period while average visits per location remained elevated in four of those six months,” Placer.ai wrote.

Currently, Chick-fil-A has more 3,000 restaurants in 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada.

The report also highlighted that a more affluent customer base is contributing to the success of the QSR’s strategy centered on quality and consistency rather than promotions.

“The chain emphasizes consistency, menu simplicity and high-touch service rather than heavy discounting. This approach has helped Chick-fil-A maintain a top ranking for QSR customer satisfaction for over a decade. At the same time, its trade areas skew more affluent than those of traditional QSR competitors, providing a degree of insulation from macroeconomic pressures and supporting a willingness to pay for a reliable, higher-quality dining experience,” Placer.ai wrote.

The research firm noted that Chick-fil-A appears “well positioned to sustain its upward trajectory.”

Meanwhile at McDonald’s, global same-store sales rose 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the United States, same-store sales increased 6.8%, indicating that the company’s value push was paying off.

“McDonald’s is not going to get beat on value and affordability,” Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski said during an investor call, attributing the growth to the company’s multi-year effort to increase affordability.

According to the Associated Press, McDonald’s cut prices on U.S. combo meals in September, which came on top of discounts like the McValue menu that began earlier in 2025. McDonald’s Snack Wraps, which returned to menus in July for $2.99, also helped improve value perceptions.