Chick-fil-A vs. McDonalds: Strategy Lessons
When it comes to business strategy, two industry giants offer a masterclass in focus: McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A.
Both serve fast food. Both are wildly successful. Yet, their strategies couldn’t be more different.
McDonald’s wins with speed and scale.
Chick-fil-A wins with quality and experience.
McDonald’s aims to serve as many customers as quickly as possible, expanding globally with automation and cost efficiency. Chick-fil-A, on the other hand, prioritizes customer experience—keeping stores closed on Sundays, limiting expansion, and focusing on hospitality.
Neither approach is wrong. What matters is clarity of vision and executing against it.
The Tech Company That Found Its Focus
Recently, one of my clients, a fast-growing tech company found themselves in a common trap: trying to sell to everyone.
They had a great product, but their strategy was broad and unfocused.
Their challenges:
Targeting multiple industries without a clear ideal customer profile (ICP)
Offering features that weren’t truly differentiating them from competitors
Struggling to communicate their unique value
The wake-up call?
They realized success isn’t about trying to be everything to everyone—it’s about choosing who they serve best and doubling down.
From Scattered to Strategic
To fix this, they took a step back and redefined their approach:
Reassessed their vision – What kind of company do they want to be in 5-10 years?
Analyzed the marketplace – Where do they have a real edge against competitors?
Refined their differentiation – Instead of competing on price or features alone, they repositioned around their true unique value.
Got clear on their ideal clients – No more marketing to everyone. They chose who to attract and built their messaging around that.
With a clear strategy in place, the company quickly saw results. They streamlined their sales process, ensuring every interaction focused on their ideal client. Their marketing spend became more targeted, eliminating wasted efforts and improving conversion rates. Within months, they saw a surge in inbound interest, higher engagement from their ideal customers, and a significant uptick in revenue. By focusing on the right strategy, their growth is accelerating faster than ever.
The Takeaway: Strategy is About Decisions
McDonald’s doesn’t try to be Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A doesn’t try to be McDonald’s.
Each company makes decisions aligned with their strategy—and that’s why they win.
The same applies in tech, nonprofits, and any business. When an organization refines its approach, identifies its strengths, and focuses on the right customers, growth follows.
Now is the time to get clear on your strategy and commit to executing it with focus.
Refine Your Strategy
Are you ready to refine your strategy? Need some help?
Let’s connect and explore how we can help your business achieve the same transformative results.
