In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, being a “great neighbor” means showing up when it matters most. For Chick-fil-A® Owner-Operators across Minnesota, that commitment has grown into a market-wide movement to ensure that surplus food finds its way to the tables of those who need it most.
By the Numbers
- A Legacy of Local Care: The Minnesota market has helped provide nearly 500,000 meals to neighbors in need since the first restaurant began participating in 2017.
- Meeting a Critical Need: With 1 in 5 households in Minnesota currently experiencing food insecurity, local Owner-Operators are dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of those they serve.
- A Growing Footprint of Impact: The 21 restaurants currently serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area are just the beginning; five new openings planned for this year will each include dedicated hunger relief funding to further support the community.
- The Power of Togetherness: What started as individual efforts has blossomed into a market-wide commitment, with every local Owner-Operator now participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program to divert surplus food from landfills to local plates.
For local Owner-Operators in Minnesota, the mission to serve doesn’t end at the front counter. It is a responsibility they carry into the heart of their communities, driven by a simple but powerful belief: no good food should ever go to waste when a neighbor is hungry.
Through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, Minnesota restaurants have spent nearly a decade turning surplus ingredients into a lifeline. By partnering with Second Harvest Heartland, a cornerstone of hunger relief in the Midwest, they have built a seamless bridge between their kitchens and local food banks. This relationship allows Owner-Operators to respond directly to the needs of the Twin Cities and beyond, ensuring that high-quality meals reach those who need them most.
The spirit of togetherness was on full display recently in Brooklyn Park. Local Owner-Operators from across the market stepped away from their restaurants to work side-by-side at Second Harvest Heartland, packing 40-pound bags of potatoes for local families. For these Operators, this commitment is a natural extension of Chick-fil-A‘s culture of care.
“There are so many people facing hunger right here in our own neighborhoods. Ensuring our neighbors are fed and cared for is a fundamental need, and as local Owner-Operators, we feel a deep responsibility to step up and do our part to help.”
– Nancy Christman, Local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Maple Grove
This collective action highlights a unified approach: it isn’t just one restaurant giving back, it’s an entire market working in unison. As Chick-fil-A continues to grow across the state, this momentum shows no signs of slowing down. From philanthropic contributions tied to new restaurant openings to ongoing support for local food banks, Minnesota Owner-Operators are proving that their commitment to the community is as enduring as the North Star itself. By working together, they ensure that the Brand’s growth directly translates to a greater impact for their neighbors.
To learn more about the Shared Table program, visit Chick-fil-A.com/Shared Table.
