New facility will help support 150 Chick-fil-A restaurants 

FRANKFORT, KY - On Dec. 9, 2024, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted new momentum in the state’s food and beverage industry as Chick-fil-A Supply announced plans for a new $100 million distribution facility in Elsmere that is expected to create 178 well-paying, full-time jobs over five years.

“Once again, an industry-leading company is making a major investment in our commonwealth and our incredible workforce,” said Gov. Beshear. “This investment by Chick-fil-A Supply in Northern Kentucky will provide incredible job opportunities for families across the region, and I am looking forward to their future success here in their new Kentucky home.”

Chick-fil-A Supply is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chick-fil-A Inc. that serves as an innovative distribution service provider supporting Chick-fil-A restaurants.

The new distribution center will be located in Kenton County on over 28 acres and will include a more-than-270,000-square-foot facility. The new facility will support around 150 Chick-fil-A restaurants in the region. In the first year, Chick-fil-A Supply plans to employ more than 130, with roles including a general manager and various leadership positions, drivers, navigators, warehouse team members and maintenance technicians. Construction of the new facility has begun with the distribution center expected to be operational in 2026.

In an effort to integrate and work with the local community, Chick-fil-A Inc. will donate $25,000 to a Feeding America partner food bank to support local hunger relief efforts once the distribution center becomes operational.

“Elsmere not only provides access to quality talent, but its unique location will also allow us to receive product by rail; the third distribution center in our network to do so,” said Josh Grote, executive director of Chick-fil-A Supply. “We’re grateful to the Elsmere community and Commonwealth of Kentucky for the warm welcome and look forward to serving Chick-fil-A restaurants in the area.”

Since opening in 1967, Chick-fil-A Inc. has grown to become the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 team members are employed by independent owner-operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. In 2023, the company shared plans to expand by 2030 into Europe and Asia.

Chick-fil-A Supply ensures restaurants have the food and products they need. The subsidiary currently operates nine distribution centers located in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, Kansas and Texas. These locations play a central role in the logistics and distribution of ingredients and supplies that help serve hundreds of restaurants every day.

Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann welcomed Chick-fil-A Supply to Northern Kentucky: “Chick-fil-A Supply’s investment highlights two of Kenton County’s key economic development assets: our strategic location in the United States and our superior transportation network. Together, these two attributes help us win the types of projects that will assure our prosperity for generations to come.”

Elsmere Mayor Marty Lenhof thanked Chick-fil-A Supply leaders for locating their newest facility in the city: “We are grateful Chick-fil-A Supply chose Elsmere for this significant investment and are excited to have such a great corporate citizen in our community. We’re proud that the Core5 Industrial Partners’ C5 Airport East Logistics Center was chosen for this facility.”

BE NKY Growth Partnership CEO Lee Crume expressed his gratitude to Chick-fil-A Supply for choosing the Cincinnati region for its new location: “We are excited that this Chick-fil-A Supply location will provide Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout the Midwest with the high-quality food enjoyed by their customers and extends the Chick-fil-A culture of care in Northern Kentucky.”

Chick-fil-A’s investment and job creation builds on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling nearly $34 billion in announced investments, creating roughly 57,500 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history.

The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. The average incentivized hourly wage in 2022 and 2023 topped $26 in consecutive years for the first time.

Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.

The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.

Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.

In March, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings. In April, Site Selection placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and in the top 10 nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.

Gov. Beshear announced a Supply Kentucky initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies. And last month, the Governor announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.

For more information on Chick-fil-A, visit chick-fil-a.com.

To learn more about Chick-fil-A Supply, visit cfa-supply.com.

A detailed community profile for Kenton County can be viewed here.

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at CED.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.