Chick-Fil-A was born in the 1940s. In 1946 the company’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, opened the Dwarf Grill, now known as the Dwarf House, in Georgia near the Ford Atlanta assembly plant. Its corporate headquarters is in Georgia, and they have over 2,500 locations in almost every state (except Alaska, Hawaii, and Vermont). Their workers represent a significant source of business for the restaurant.
In 1967 the first Chick-Fil-A was born. After years of running the Dwarf Grill, Cathy discovered a pressure-fryer that could make a chicken sandwich as fast as a hamburger. Between 1967 and the 1980s, the brand expanded and established multiple locations. However, they were mostly confined to food courts. The first standalone Chick-Fil-A restaurant opened in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1986 and would become the standard. Today, Chick-Fil-A is the biggest chicken-focused fast-food chain in the USA and the third-largest fast-food chain.
Famous Chick-Fil-A trademarks
Chick-Fil-A is one of the biggest chains and sports many well-known slogans, most of which are subject to trademark registration. Key trademarks include ‘‘Eat Mor Chikin’’. Chick-Fil-A has strenuously defended its intellectual property more than a dozen times, though not always with success. The restaurant chain lost a legal battle to a Vermont Artist (Bo Muller-Moore) in 2014, as Moore fought to register the slogan ‘Eat More Kale.’ Still, you can’t guard against alleged trademark infringement if you don’t register your trademarks with the USPTO. On that note, let’s take a look at all trademarks registered under CFA Properties, Inc.
“We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich”
One of the most well-known Chick-Fil-A trademarks is ‘”We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich’’. It has been one of their critical slogans since the 1990s. The trademark application was filed in 1996, following its first use in 1994. The trademark covers:
- Restaurant services
Related: How to trademark a slogan
“Salads for every kind of day”
One of the newer applications on this list is the wordmark, “salads for every kind of day’”. The trademark application was submitted in 2021 and applies to:
- Catering services
- Restaurant services, including providing food, drink, and takeout services
- Home delivery restaurants
“Countless options, one order”
Another new trademark application on this list is the “Countless Options, One Order” slogan. The trademark application was submitted in 2021 for use in:
- Downloadable computer software related to food and drink home delivery
- Online ordering services related to takeout and delivery
- Delivery of goods
- Food and drink delivery
- Providing temporary use of online software (non-downloadable) related to ordering food
- Restaurant and catering services
“Delivery from us to you” logo
This logo involves the word “Delivery” at the top of the circle above the phrase “From us to you” beneath the circle. There is a stylized “C” in the circle’s center, which resembles a chicken head (facing to the right). There are six dots on each side of the stylized “C”. The trademark was registered in 2021, following its first use in 2020. The trademark applies to:
- Delivery of food and drink
- Restaurant services
True Inspiration Awards
The True Inspiration Awards were launched in 2015 in honor of the Chick-Fil-A founder.
‘‘The Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards™ program provides annual grants to celebrate and support nonprofit organizations making deep, lasting impacts in their communities.’’ – Chick-Fil-A Inc. The trademark filing was submitted in 2020 following its first use in 2015 and is registered in the following categories:
- Providing grants to community non-profits
The Chicken Wire
The Chicken Wire is an online blog/news and current events page run by Chick-Fil-A. Following its first use in 2016, the trademark was registered in 2017 in one category:
- Providing online publications related to multimedia content in the food and hospitality communities
“Eat Mor Chikin” logo
The “Eat Mor Chikin” logo consists of three animated cows, each holding up a sign that says (from left to right) ‘Eat’ ‘Mor’ ‘Chicken.’ Chick-Fil-A also trademarked the standing cows seen holding up placards in the images. The logo was first used in 1996 but wasn’t officially registered until 2002 in the following categories:
- Restaurant services
- Clothing and merchandise, including hats, neckties, shirts, sweatshirts, and T-shirts
“Kids C” logo
The “Kids C” logo is most often seen on merchandise and products that Chick-Fil-A sells for children. The logo consists of a letter “C” resembling a chicken head pointed to the right, with a beak, comb, and eye all within a square. The logo was registered in 2022 following its first use in 2019 and is registered in the following categories:
- Children’s books, including coloring and activity books
- Toys including masks, mini figurines, card games, etc.
- Restaurant services
Frosted Sunrise
The Frosted Sunrise is a popular Chick-Fil-A beverage created with flavorings, Chick-Fil-A orange juice, and vanilla ice cream. The Frosted Sunrise enjoyed unprecedented popularity leading to the name being trademarked in 2018 for use in:
- Non-alcoholic frozen beverages
Little blue menu
The little blue menu is a virtual restaurant service that debuted in Nashville, Tennesse, and is named after the original blue menu at S. Cathy’s first restaurant. The application status is ‘pending,’ but if approved, it will apply to:
- Downloadable computer software used for ordering, tracking, and paying for food and drink delivery
- Online ordering services related to restaurant and kitchen takeout/delivery
- Delivery of food, drink, and goods
- Temporary online use of software for ordering, paying for, and tracking food delivery
- Restaurant and catering services
Aplenty
Aplenty is another pending application filed by Chick-Fil-A, though it hasn’t seen commercial use yet; if approved, it will apply to:
- Online ordering services related to restaurant and kitchen takeout/delivery
- Delivery of food, drink, and goods
- Downloadable computer software used for ordering, tracking, and paying for food and drink delivery
- Temporary online use of software for ordering, paying for, and tracking food delivery
- Restaurant and catering services
C logo
The “‘C” Chick-Fil-A logo has been included in various other trademarks, but the oldest variation involves a curved stylized “C” as part of a chicken’s head, facing towards the right. This version dates back to 1964 though later versions have improved on it. This logo is used in the following categories:
- French fried potatoes, chicken breasts, hash browns, soup, garden salad, bacon, ham, steak, and sausage. All for consumption on or off-premises
- Lemonade and fruit juice – on or off-premises consumption
- Clothing, namely, hats, neckties, shirts, sweatshirts, and T-shirts
- Frozen chicken parts
- Sportswear
Icedream
The Chick-Fil-A Icedream is an iconic frozen dessert sold at all Chick-Fil-A locations. It has developed a similar reputation to the Mcdonald’s McFlurry. The Icedream trademark was registered in 1984, following its first use in 1969. It is registered for:
- Frozen dairy dessert, for consumption on or off the premises
Chick-Fil-A waffle potato fries
Chick-Fil-A’s waffle potato fries were such a hit that they trademarked the wordmark in 1999, following its first use in 1984. The trademark applies to:
- Prepared fried potatoes for consumption on or off the premises
Wrapping up
Chick-Fil-A is an ardent defender of its intellectual property rights, with court cases dating over a decade. With a place as one of America’s top restaurant chains, it would be a million-dollar oversight if they left their intellectual property unprotected. They have more than 100 registered trademarks and are regularly submitting more applications with the trademark office, showing you that they know the value of a trademark.
