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1. You can get free food dressed as a cow on Cow Appreciation Day 2. Kids eat free Tuesday 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at participating locations. 3. Several Texas stores opened on a Sunday after deadly tornadoes killed 11 near Dallas 4. You can become a Chick-fil-A operator for around $10,000 5. Many Chick-fil-A restaurants do the "Cell Phone Coop Family Challenge" to encourage conversation

Chick-fil-A is officially the third-largest restaurant chain in America

Life
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Georgia-based Chick-fil-A is officially the third-largest restaurant chain in the country based on system-wide sales.

That’s according to the annual Top 200 Countdown proprietary ranking from Nation’s Restaurant News, reported Chick-fil-A brought in $10.46 billion in sales in 2018, a growth of 16.7%.

» Here are a few items you will no longer find on the Chick-fil-A menu

The Georgia chain moved up from its spot at No. 7 last year, surpassing Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King and Subway.

McDonald’s remained at the very top with $38.52 billion in American system-wide sales, followed by Starbucks with $20.49 billion.

But according to Business Insider, both McDonald’s and Starbucks may want to keep an eye on its competitor. Chick-fil-A is showing no signs of slowing its growth.

» How does Chick-fil-A decide which items to add to its menu?

In fact, the Southern chain continues to make its way into new markets. It recently opened its first store outside the U.S., launched a popular app and rewards program and even joined the meal kit business.

“Can they reach $30 billion? I think that's also a realistic goal if you give them enough time. And that should put them ahead of Starbucks,” equity researcher Mark Kalinowski told Insider in May.

Imagine what the numbers might look like if Chick-fil-A were to open on Sundays.

Explore the Top 200 at nrn.com.

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