Chick-fil-A Is in 48 States. Here Are the 2 States Without One.

Chick-fil-A is worldwide, with a new location opening in Singapore sometime this year. The popular chicken chain has locations in 48 states of the union — Hawaii has four. So, which two states do not have a Chick-fil-A? Let’s take a look.

Alaska and Vermont Do Not Have a Chick-fil-A

According to The Takeout, there isn’t a Chick-fil-A in Alaska. It is a food desert, to put it simply. Growing food is extremely difficult in Alaska due to its cold and mountainous climate, and shipping commodities there is costly and time-consuming due to its distant position. The Port of Alaska in Anchorage processes 75% of Alaskan goods. That makes operating a Chick-fil-A in Alaska challenging, as you would guess.

Operating almost any fast-food restaurant in Alaska is challenging. Everything in Alaska is more expensive due to the aforementioned considerations (in fact, every Alaskan receives an annual stipend from the government to stave off the heightened expenses), and fast food is no exception. The state’s capital, Juneau, requires some fast-food restaurants to charge at least 30% more for their goods than they would in the US mainland. It’s unlikely that the juice is worth the squeeze for a business like Chick-fil-A, which aims to maximize profit wherever possible.

Unfortunately for Chick-fil-A, a well-publicized dispute between the firm and an artist named Bo Muller-Moore from Montpelier damaged the company’s reputation in Vermont, preventing it from ever opening in the state.

Muller-Moore designed the phrase “Eat More Kale” for a local kale farmer, and it was used on T-shirts and magnets around the state. Unimpressed, Chick-fil-A claimed it was too similar to its “Eat Mor Chikin” advertising campaign and issued a cease-and-desist order against Muller-Moore in 2011. Muller-Moore eventually won the lawsuit and patented “Eat More Kale” after the whole state of Vermont, including the governor, swung their wagons around him.

Fan-Favorite Seasonal Items Have Returned

Meanwhile, for the rest of the 48 states, the chicken giant has re-introduced fan-favorite seasonal items. In honor of sweater season, the fast-food juggernaut returned its beloved comfort food, chicken tortilla soup.

This hearty seasonal dish has a rich, creamy foundation made with shredded chicken breast, hefty black and navy beans, and a mix of vegetables and spices. For crunch, add strips of crispy tortilla.

Although the restaurant is well-known for its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, customers know that the seasonal specialties, such the Chicken Tortilla Soup, really highlight the brand’s versatility. Reddit users are already praising the soup, and many of them wish it were available year-round due to its flavorful mix and creamy texture, which make it the ideal cold-weather comfort food. Some even claim that it’s superior to the year-round chicken noodle soup.

Additionally, Chick-fil-A announced on November 14 that the Peppermint Chip Milkshake, Peppermint Chip Iced Coffee, and Peppermint Chip Frosted Coffee would be returning on November 18 for a limited time. “Hand-spun Chick-fil-A Icedream dessert with bits of peppermint bark chips combined for a cool and creamy holiday treat,” the chain claims of the milkshake.

“This year, we’re thrilled to offer more ways for families and friends to spend time together, with a shared meal of classic menu favorites and quality moments of connection with family and friends during the holidays,” said Khalilah Cooper, vice president of brand strategy, advertising, and media. “We hope to make this season a little brighter and more memorable for our Guests, creating new reasons to get together and celebrate with loved ones.”

In other news, last October, the fast-food juggernaut declared it would release a phone app featuring exclusive content, such as games, podcasts, recipes, and animated shows.