• January 29, 2009

Atlanta quick-serve restaurant chain Chick-fil-A may be closed on Sundays, but it posted record sales growth last year nonetheless. The company posted 2008 sales of $2.96 billion, representing a 12.17% increase over the chain's 2007 sales, and a same-store sales increase of 4.59%.

The company says last year was its 41st consecutive year of system-wide sales gains and its 16th straight year of double-digit sales growth.

Last year the company also opened 83 new stores, introduced three new menu items, and eliminated trans fat from all items.

The company this year plans to add 76 new locations including 64 stand-alone restaurants, two mall/retail locations and 10 licensed outlets. The chain says it will renovate 65 restaurants this year.--Karl Greenberg