Chick-fil-A Vidalia Rolls Out “Sweet Onion” Food Truck

Chick-fil-A Vidalia rolled out its new food truck in a ribbon- cutting ceremony last week. Starting Thursday, the truck will be serving its famous chicken sandwiches in several communities within an approximately 50-mile radius of the home store.

The Vidalia location was one of five in the Southeastern United States selected recently by the company for this new “regional” continued from page

service. There are now 25 trucks posted at various locations across the country that are ready to take their products into the communities around their home base.

A large crowd of community well-wishers attended the celebration on Tuesday, February 15, to launch the new service. After the ribbon was snipped, they lined up to be served tasty sandwiches and hot waffle fries prepared inside the food truck parked outside the store on East First Street.

Vidalia Chick-fil-A Manager Britt McDade welcomed the attendees. “You have supported us since the beginning and we have been given the opportunity to serve our home base and to take Chick-fil-A into the surrounding communities.”

The Vidalia store opened in 2013, and the next year it received the company’s “Rookie of the Year” award. For almost a decade, the popular restaurant has supported the community in numerous ways, including sponsoring scholarships and charity events like its Road Race on March 5. Proceeds from the race will benefit the missions of the Paul Anderson Youth Home, Win-Shape Camps for Communities, and Vidalia Heritage Academy.

McDade noted, “This is where God planted us — our family and our business and our team. I am beyond grateful for this community and the people on my team. We are going to do our best to steward this (food truck) with the same amount of passion and the same amount of excellence we seek to serve you every day.” He added, “But we are always working to get better.”

McDade focused on the quality of service and food that are hallmarks of Chick-fil-A. “What is our why? To glorify God, to be faithful stewards of all we are entrusted with, and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.”

He acknowledged his team of approximately 100 as a big part of the local store’s success. “Within Chick-fil-A circles we say that every life has a story,” and that not only applies to his team but to the public they serve, he explained. “We know the 1600 transactions (daily average) we do in this community have a story behind them. It is not just a transaction but an interaction.” Sarah Bullard, Director of the Beyond the Restaurant Division and coordinator for the new service for the Vidalia Chick-fil-A, said, “We appreciate that customers not just locally but from throughout the area have been visiting the Vidalia store since it was established, and we’re excited to bring the food truck to these area customers.” She said the truck is scheduled to visit Swainsboro, Baxley, Reidsville and Claxton in the near future. By the end of 2022, McRae, Metter and Hazlehurst could be added to the truck’s itinerary.

Bullard said it is remarkable that out of Chick-fil-A’s 2500 national locations, only 25 were selected for the food truck test market and of the 25, only five were selected in the most recent round of applications in the region including North Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. “There were 70 applications made throughout the Southeast for the truck, so the fact that Vidalia was chosen is very significant.”

Michele Johnson, President of the Greater Vidalia Chamber, was on hand for the launch of the food truck last week and recognized how the endeavor will offer the opportunity for Chick-fil-A to act as a sort of ambassador for the Vidalia area.

“Chick-fil-A will use this milestone to engage and connect with the entire region. They will set an example for us all. This food truck will demonstrate

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how our region’s business community can collaborate, share, and embrace everything we have to offer collectively,” Johnson said.

She added, “The excitement surrounding an expansion of such a wellrespected brand as Chickfil- A with the food truck opportunity has had our entire region buzzing since its announcement. Chickfil- A not only delivers a superior dining experience, but also believes in giving back. The business gives back to its customers’ lives and the communities they serve.” Johnson concluded, “It is an awesome thing you have done, Britt Mc-Dade! We are grateful for you, your team, and Chickfil- A! Thank you for being here to grow with us!” The food trucks were an obvious direction for the company to take. Eateries that have fared the best during the COVID-19 pandemic are those that have been able to offer drive-through service, and Chick-fil-A has been an allstar fast-food chain when it comes to its drive-through business. A company spokesperson said that the Chick-fil-A mobile service is also an adventurous way for the company to test new markets and gauge the temperature among prospective customers in regions where Chick-fil-A locations don't already exist.

The mobile service menu is limited to the items that are in greatest demand, including regular and spicy chicken sandwiches, nuggets, waffle fries, and signature sauces.

The Vidalia store is posting its schedule on its Facebook page and Instagram, in addition to getting the word out through local media. For more information, customers can also visit: foodtruck@cfvidalia. com.

SUCCESS STORY – Mike Holmes, left, of Peachtree City, was among the well-wishers at the launch party. Holmes owns and operates three Chick-fil-A locations and was Britt McDade’s trainer and mentor. McDade, his wife, Candace, and one of the couple’s three sons, Grayson, look on.Photo by Deborah Clark