Sponsored By

2013 Golden Chain Awards: Dan Cathy's timeline2013 Golden Chain Awards: Dan Cathy's timeline

The 2013 Golden Chain award winners represent the best the restaurant industry has to offer. To celebrate the winners, NRN outlines each executive’s road to the top and dives into the strategies they used to build brands and inspire people. Find out more about this year's winners >>

Erin Dostal, Associate Editor

September 27, 2013

1 Min Read
Nation's Restaurant News logo in a gray background | Nation's Restaurant News

Dan Cathy was named president and chief operating officer at Chick-fil-A in 2001. Since then, Cathy has steered the Atlanta-based quick-service chain founded by his father, S. Truett Cathy, through major growth, adding about 700 units — many far beyond the chain’s Southeast home base. At the end of 2012, privately held Chick-fil-A had 1,669 units and systemwide sales of more than $4.5 billion.

Cathy, a self-proclaimed obsessive when it comes to customer service, oversaw the launch several years ago of the brand’s “Second-Mile Service” program, which encourages all employees to exceed expectations whenever possible. He also is known for regaling brand fans with his trumpet at new unit openings. In his personal life, Cathy is a devoted Christian, a licensed pilot and a marathon runner. He also won the Golden Chain Award in 2005.

About the Author

Erin Dostal

Associate Editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Phone: 212-204-4387
Follow @erindostal

Erin Dostal covers the Southeast U.S. at Nation’s Restaurant News. She previously worked at Direct Marketing News where she covered trends in database marketing and e-commerce. Prior to moving to New York in 2011, she was a reporter at Las Vegas Sun and a launching editor of VEGAS INC, a business magazine covering the largest industries in Southern Nevada: tourism, gaming, entertainment, real estate and—of course—restaurants. She holds a journalism degree from Northwestern University.

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.