1851

This summer, Chick-fil-A tested a new service feature at three of its Houston franchise locations. <a href="http://www.kallpod.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kallpod</a>, a small, three-button device that customers can use to request service, has been quietly changing the way customers engage with servers and management at restaurants and hospitality venues across the U.S. and Canada for the past few years. Chick-fil-A is among the highest-profile foodservice chains to adopt the device, as well as the first in the quick service sector, and the early results are making waves throughout the industry.

One of the three Houston franchisees saw re-order revenue increase 500 percent after installing Kallpod. Those are the types of<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/12/chick-fil-a-boosts-sales-with-electronic-butler-bell.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> results that make headlines</a>, even outside of the foodservice industry.

<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciakelso/2018/04/03/chick-fil-as-growth-trajectory-fueled-by-demand-for-simplicity/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710#75ec7245612b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chick-fil-A is known for its focus on service</a>, so when it makes a change to its customer-facing operations, the industry pays attention.

&ldquo;On the surface, this addition may sound like a simple augmentation of Chick-fil-A&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciakelso/2018/04/03/chick-fil-as-growth-trajectory-fueled-by-demand-for-simplicity/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710#301eb2f25612" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">standard-bearing customer service</a>. But the numbers indicate it&rsquo;s much more than that,&rdquo;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciakelso/2018/07/16/balancing-act-restaurants-must-meet-demand-for-both-service-and-technology/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710#6434a6bb15ea" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> wrote Alicia Kelso for Forbes</a>.

She concludes, &ldquo;Chick-fil-A&rsquo;s Kallpod experience&hellip;underscores how technology can facilitate better customer service. In the increasingly competitive limited-service landscape, the brands that figure out how to successfully strike the service/technology balance will have the best chances.&rdquo;

Franchise Times honed in on how Kallpod encourages secondary orders, something QSR brands don&rsquo;t typically see much of. The magazine <a href="https://www.franchisetimes.com/news/September-2018/Re-Order-Technology-Enables-QSR-Table-Service/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">interviewed Devin Deshotel</a>, the chief operating officer for two of the Houston locations using Kallpod.

&ldquo;Before we introduced Kallpod, you would hear guests say they were interested in trying a cone but didn&rsquo;t want to order it with their first order placed at the counter,&rdquo; Deshotel said. &ldquo;Now, I often hear guests say that they are going to place their first order and will order the cone at the table. There is a tremendous opportunity for those incremental orders that were not taking place before we implemented Kallpod.&rdquo;

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/12/chick-fil-a-boosts-sales-with-electronic-butler-bell.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CNBC</a>,<a href="https://www.nrn.com/technology/tech-tracker-chick-fil-adds-call-button-secondary-orders?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Nation&rsquo;s Restaurant News</a> and<a href="https://www.today.com/food/local-chick-fil-help-you-order-table-side-button-t137610?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines-2708710" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Today</a> are just a few of the other national outlets to cover the partnership. Kallpod&rsquo;s CEO, Gabriel Weisz, says the company is thrilled, but not entirely surprised by the amount of press it&rsquo;s received since working with Chick-fil-A.

&ldquo;The service industry is at a crossroads, and people can feel it,&rdquo; Weisz said. &ldquo;When a major brand like Chick-fil-A takes a step forward in the way it interacts with customers, that&rsquo;s something that everyone is going to pay very close attention to.&quot;

Chick-fil-A is not the first big brand to use Kallpod. Marriott, HMS Host, Live Nation, Aramark, and more than 1000 other foodservice and hospitality brands have all brought on versions of the device. But the chicken franchise is the biggest QSR brand to partner with Kallpod, and Weisz predicts it won&rsquo;t be the last.

&ldquo;Kallpod has made a name for itself by allowing service-oriented brands to engage more effectively and more easily with their guests,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;For the most part, that&rsquo;s been with high-end hospitality brands and sporting &amp; music venues that live and die by the quality of their service. But there&rsquo;s a whole other world of restaurants that have a lot to gain by improving their service with Kallpod. Chick-fil-A is proof of that, and I think we are going to see a lot more QSR brands following their lead.&rdquo;

Chick-fil-A’s Kallpod Partnership Grabs Headlines

1851 Franchise

The chicken chain introduced the devices this summer, and the industry is paying close attention to the results.


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

chick-fil-as-kallpod-partnership-grabs-headlines

Paris Baguette

Photo of table of pastries and donuts in Paris Baguette

IndyStar: Bakery Café Paris Baguette Expanding to Indiana. What’s on the Menu?

paris-baguette-expands-to-indiana

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring Acquires Coast Sign to Expand Support for Multi-Location Brands

capitalspring-acquires-coast-sign-to-expand-support-for-multi-location-brands

Sola Salons

Removing Obstacles Through Listening-First Leadership: Daryl Hurst’s Approach at Sola Salons

daryl-hurst-sola-salons-leadership-journey

Paris Baguette Canada

Photo of exterior of a Paris Baguette location

How Much Can I Make as a Paris Baguette Franchisee?

paris-baguette-franchise-disclosure-document-analysis

Busy Bee Jumpers

Busy Bee Jumpers: Where Proven Success Meets People-First Franchising

busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-culture-success

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

How To Sell Just One Franchise: What You’ll Learn at FranCamp NJ 2025

how-to-sell-just-one-franchise-what-youll-learn-at-francamp-nj-2025

House Passes Tax Relief Package With Key Benefits for Small Businesses and Franchises

house-passes-small-business-tax-relief-bill-2025

McDonald’s To Hire 375,000 Workers as It Prepares for Major U.S. Expansion

mcdonalds-to-hire-375000-workers-as-it-prepares-for-major-us-expansion

The Joint Chiropractic - Dr. Anthony Tran - IFA Franchisee of the Year - 1851 Franchise

The Joint Chiropractic’s Dr. Anthony Tran Named Franchisee of the Year by the IFA

joint-chiropractic-dr-anthony-tran-ifa

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Car Sales Taught Buddy's Home Furnishings’ Mitchell Lee the Secrets of Franchise Development

how-car-sales-taught-buddys-home-furnishings-mitchell-lee-the-secrets-of-franchise-development

The Top 20 Handyman Franchises To Invest in for 2025

top-handyman-franchises-to-invest-in

The Top 20 Cleaning Franchises to Invest in for 2025

top-cleaning-franchises-to-invest-in

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Melissa & Matt Johnson and Pigtails & Crewcuts logo

Building a Family-Friendly Business: How Melissa and Matt Johnson Grew Pigtails & Crewcuts in San Antonio

how-melissa-and-matt-johnson-grew-pigtails-crewcuts-in-san-antonio

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Brianna and Matt Fitchett, Seniors Helping Seniors logo

Nonprofit Leaders to Bring Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise to East Bay, California

nonprofit-leaders-to-bring-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-to-east-bay-california

Chick-fil-A’s Kallpod Partnership Grabs Headlines

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS