Who is Better: Chick –Fil- La or Zaxby’s?

ECPI University

We live in a world of convenience and everywhere you look there is a fast food restaurant around or popping up. Fast food is inexpensive, filling and tasty. Besides hamburger, chicken is one of the best fast foods around. We have KFC, Church’s, Golden Chicken, Chick Fil A, Zaxby’s, and etc. Chick-Fil-A and Zaxby’s are two of the greatest fast food restaurants known for their chicken are so much similar; however, very different. One could believe that Chick Fil A pulls ahead of the competition in social responsibility, price, and variety but we will see.
Chick-Fil-A opened its first doors in 1946 and Zaxby’s in 1990; therefore, Chick-Fil-A has been around for a long time and able to perfect their mission versus Zaxby’s twenty years. As for social responsibilities Chick fil A “Over the past four years, Chick-fil-A, Inc. and its franchised Restaurant Operators have given more than $68 million in contributions to over 700 educational and charitable organizations and have provided millions of dollars in food donations all across America, in 2009-2011, Chick Fil A invested $13.5 million in day camps and overnight camps for thousands of boys and girls, and Chick-fil-A donates $3 million per year to operate 12 foster homes” ( CFA 2016). Another good thing that Chick Fil A does is not opening on Sunday’s for religious reasons. According to QSR Magazine (2015) Zaxby’s social responsibilities consist of the Make-A-Wish foundation where they donated $500,000 in 2015, bringing the total to $1.9 million. The company has sponsored 240 wishes since 2011, the Heart of Dallas Bowl where for the second year and continuing through 2017, Zaxby’s is honoring first responders through its college football bowl sponsorship, and Local Community Involvement. Both have done tremendous things in the community; however, Chick Fil A is ahead with their social responsibilities since they have been in existence longer. Truett Cathy owner puts it best “Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else – our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.” (CFA, 2016).
We can also say that price can lead us in making a decision in a purchase. Chick Fil A menu prices vary from item to item. Their breakfast starts at around $1 to $7 that can include a side and drink. Chick Fil A meals start around $3 to $9 they can also come with a side item and medium drink. Single items like their classic or premium sides, desserts, or extra price range from around $1 to about $7. Kid meals price range from around $3 to $5 which includes a drink and toy. Chick Fil A salads price range is around $5 to $7 they are not as big as Zaxby’s. They also offer catering and they prices are from around $1 to $87 depending on if you are picking up or delivery. As for Zaxby’s menu prices range depends on what you are getting as well. They have Meal Dealz whose prices range from $4 to around $7 which includes a drink. Zaxby’s plates are a little more expensive which can range from $7 to around $11. They come in regular size or large and the wings in boneless or traditional. Their single items like their fingers or wings price depends on the amount of pieces you are getting. They have five to twenty pieces and the price range from $5 to around $17. Their other single items like the sides, extras, or desserts price range from around $.25 to $9. They also offer kids meals that range from around $4 to $5, which is not bad for what comes in the kids meals. Zaxby’s salad prices range from around $5 to about $7 which is amazing for the amount of salad you get. Plus they offer catering and these prices can be around $5 to $57 depending on the item.
When a person is thinking about eating out and getting some chicken, the menu’s variety plays a major part in deciding where to eat. Chick Fil La and Zaxby’s both has a variety of items on their menu. Chick Fil La items consist of various chicken sandwiches in original, spicy or chargrilled; nuggets either fried or grilled, wraps, and salads. Their salads come in Asian, Cobb, or Garden some features consist of Grilled and sliced chicken breast served on a fresh bed of chopped romaine lettuce and baby greens, topped with shredded red cabbage and carrots, crumbled blue cheese and a mix of red and green apples, strawberries and more depending on the salad. They also offer side items and hands down their most popular side is their waffle fries deep fried to golden perfection. A few of their other side selections include things such as Cole Slaw, side salad, soup and fruit cups. As mention earlier they also offer breakfast items like the chick-n-mini, chicken biscuit, sausage biscuit, oatmeal, eggs. They also offer desserts as in milk shakes, cheese cake, fudge brownie, lemon pie, and ice cream with toppings. On the other hand, Zaxby’s menu offers three varieties of chicken the chicken fingers, chicken wings and boneless wings, and offers each in several ways. As in hot honey mustard, teriyaki, sweet & spicy, barbecue and a traditional Buffalo-style hot sauce in five heat levels from wimpy to original to tongue torch to nuclear to insane. The tenders are also the backbone of their salad (House, Cobb, Blue, Caesar, and Asian on occasions. All which they offer in fried, grilled, or garden. For instance, the house features mixed greens, cucumbers, roman tomatoes, carrots, red cabbage, cheddar and jack cheeses and tasty fried onion crumbles that add a lot of flavor and crunchy contrast and really make the salad. They also have appetizers (fried white cheddar bites, onion rings, tarter chips and spicy fried mushrooms and occasionally fried pickles), desserts (milkshakes, cookies and brownies), the best bread ever Texas Toast, and of course their crinkle fries.
So who is better? One can say Chick Fil A or Zaxby’s but I think Zaxby’s. Although Chick Fil A has a longer history and dedication to the community, I support all that Zaxby’s has done and continuing to do in the community. Both companies have similar price ranges and to me you get more for your buck at Zaxby’s. Furthermore, Zaxby’s has a better variety when it comes to their food, you get more and you can get the items in varies sauces. Zack McLeroy CEO of Zaxby’s states it the best “We constantly listen and make changes based on your feedback, whether it’s about products, restaurant design, partnerships, or customer service. We will keep listening and celebrating for the next 25 years and beyond” (QSR, 2015).

References
Benton, Laura (2014 February 21). “Zaxby’s: Making A Difference One Wish at a Time. Retrieved April 25, 2016 from http://sustainablecomposing.tumblr.com/post/77417379302/zaxbys-making-a-difference- one-wish-at-a-time
CFA (2016). Giving Back. Retrieved April 25, 2016 from http://www.chick-fil- a.com/Company/Responsibility-Overview and http://www.chick-fil- a.com/Company/Environmental