December 01, 2022
Wear More Chicken: Chick-fil-A Debuts First-Ever Merch Line
The Chick-fil-A Originals Collection is inspired by the menu items that make its food special, the restaurant says. NYC distributor Harper + Scott worked with the chain to create the line and retail online store.
Chick-fil-A fans, rejoice: The popular quick-service restaurant has finally launched a line of limited-edition branded merchandise that folks can purchase.
Fast-food brands retailing merch is nothing new, of course, but this collection is noteworthy since it represents a first for the Georgia-headquartered company that’s one of the largest fast-food chains in America.
The Chick-fil-A Originals Collection is inspired by the menu items that make its food and brand special and beloved, the restaurant says.
There are T-shirts, a trucker hat and camper mug that read “Chicken for Breakfast,” a tote, notecard set, clutch and crewnecks, plus an “I Heart Waffle Fries” hoodie that celebrates Chick-fil-A’s popular side dish. The brand’s Cow mascot makes an appearance as a plushie, and there’s a three-pack of socks with graphics that feature the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, waffle potato fries and Chick-fil-A lemonade. Perhaps the most unique offering is the chicken-nugget-shaped pillow and accompanying sauce blanket.
Chick-fil-A created the collection and corresponding online store in collaboration with Harper + Scott (asi/220052), a certified BCorp and New York City-based promotional products distributor that ranks among Counselor’s Best Places to Work in the promo industry. Company leaders Jon Alagem and Michael Scott Cohen are also members of the Power 50 of the industry’s most influential people.
“This project was a dream come true,” Cohen told ASI Media. “It’s been one of the highlights of my professional career to watch the team at H + S come together, collaborate and put the client first. Chick-fil-A has been incredible to work with and it’s an account we’ve been working on for a few years. We couldn’t be more excited to launch the Chick-fil-A store!”
Chick-fil-A said fan demand for merch was a big reason it decided to create swag. That’s further affirmation of the important role merch can play in building connections between brands and their audiences.
“This collection is a joyful expression of the originality that both sets us apart and resonates with our fans,” said Kate Neyhart, Chick-fil-A’s principal team leader of brand strategy. “Our fans have been asking for it, so we’re thrilled to say, ‘thank you’ with both a collection and online shopping experience we think they’ll love.”
Items in the line range from $15 to $75. Chick-fil-A expects them to sell out.
Pointing to extensive merch offerings that chain quick-service brands like McDonald’s, Dunkin and Chipotle have had success with, CNN reported that swag is a way the chains create buzz and excite fans.
Andrew Charles, restaurant sector analyst for investment bank Cowen, recently told CNN that merch is “another avenue for companies like McDonald’s to do this outside of TV [ads],” adding that the aging brands need a way to attract younger customers, so offering merch is a “home run.”
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