Chick-fil-A is changing the way its team members serve beverages with the introduction of a reusable drive-thru drink caddy. Designed to reduce single-use packaging waste, cut costs, and improve efficiency, this innovative caddy is being tested at select locations and could eventually revolutionize how beverages are served in the fast-food industry.
Who are the minds behind Chick-fil-A’s reusable drink caddy?
Chick-fil-A’s optional two-drink caddy, made from durable Polypropylene, was developed with input from Chris Walker, a multi-restaurant owner-operator in Charleston, S.C., and John Spenst, an owner-operator in Little Rock, Ark. Their shared vision helped bring this innovation to life, aiming to reduce paper waste and improve operational efficiency.
According to Lori Barnett, senior project lead for Chick-fil-A’s Packaging Team, the company has seen a 300% increase in the use of paper drink carriers to meet growing speed and accuracy demands. “But we’ve also observed in many cases that once drinks are in the hands of our guests, the paper carriers quickly get tossed aside,” Barnett noted.
Walker noticed this issue firsthand while also managing rising paper costs, which have increased by an average of 6% annually since 2020, according to IBISWorld data. Seeking a solution, he reached out to Chick-fil-A’s Packaging Team. “I noticed that paper costs were too high and began investigating where there was an opportunity to make improvements,” Walker said. “This started as a basic idea, but the end result represents a profound impact.”
Meanwhile, Spenst also began looking for alternatives after his financial consultant pointed out the significant waste associated with paper drink carriers. Upon sharing his insights with the Packaging Team, he learned that Walker had already proposed a similar idea. At the time, Lindsay Horne, director of strategic initiatives for Walker’s Restaurants, was already testing potential solutions.
How did they develop the final prototype?
Chick-fil-A’s commitment to innovation and sustainability was at the core of the development process for the reusable drink caddy. Cross-functional teams from Chick-fil-A, Inc. conducted on-site visits to observe the system in action, gathering feedback from Team Members who had tested off-the-shelf products. Using these insights, the team developed and refined multiple prototype versions for evaluation.
Both Walker’s and Spenst’s teams played a key role in testing these prototypes, carefully documenting what worked and what needed improvement. Their input helped refine the design into a simple, easy-to-use, clean, and storable solution that met the needs of Chick-fil-A’s fast-paced environment.
“After I started trying the reusable caddy, I saw the impact firsthand from both a cost-saving and waste-prevention standpoint,” Walker said. “Knowing that one of Chick-fil-A’s priorities is to care for our planet, it just seems like a win-win for the system.”
During the research phase, Chick-fil-A’s team analyzed drink carrier solutions used by other quick-service restaurants and found that most relied on disposable four-cup carriers—a design dating back to pre-drive-thru expansion. None had adopted a reusable alternative.
“We like that this new option provides stability and also gives our Team Members an additional opportunity to engage with Guests when they deliver the order—whether it’s to a car or a table,” said Barnett.
Through continuous refinement and real-world testing, Chick-fil-A successfully developed a functional, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly innovation poised to enhance operations across select locations.
What’s next for Chick-fil-A’s reusable drink caddy?
As the testing phase continues, Chick-fil-A is preparing for a broader rollout of its reusable drink caddy. According to Barnett, restaurants are expected to keep six to 12 caddies in rotation after testing is complete.
If the reusable caddy successfully replaces 50% of single-use cup carriers, Chick-fil-A estimates it could save 91,000 pounds of paperboard annually—a significant step toward reducing waste.
Starting in late February 2025, all Chick-fil-A restaurants will have access to the new caddies.
Chick-fil-A’s other sustainable efforts
Chick-fil-A’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the reusable drink caddy. The restaurant chain has been expanding its sustainability initiatives in recent years, taking significant steps to reduce waste and improve energy efficiency. In 2023, it became the first restaurant chain to commit to the U.S. Food Waste Pact, a voluntary agreement aimed at minimizing food waste across businesses.
Since 2012, the company’s Shared Table program has helped redirect restaurant surplus food to local food shelters, soup kitchens, and nonprofits, ensuring unused meals benefit those in need. Additionally, Chick-fil-A is piloting a composting program in over 130 locations to further reduce its environmental impact.
Beyond food waste, the company is also exploring energy sustainability through a solar-powered microgrid system being tested in California. This system is designed to lower power usage and costs while ensuring restaurants remain operational during both planned and unexpected power outages, a growing concern across the state.