Excitement over a new Chick-fil-A marketing campaign wasn’t universal, as customers and employees alike expressed what they really want to see from the chicken chain.
With 2026 underway, the Atlanta-based fast food restaurant serving up sandwiches with a “My pleasure” officially marked 80 years since it began as the Dwarf Grill under founder S. Truett Cathy. Beginning year of “Newstalgia” with special cups, new drinks and a sweepstakes was exciting for some, but lackluster for others who merely wanted to see meals be affordable again.
In a press release issued Monday, Khalilah Cooper, Chick-fil-A vice president of brand strategy, advertising & media, commented on the chain’s outlook at the year’s start, stating, “This year marks more than an anniversary — it’s a celebration of the memories, meals and meaningful moments that have brought people together at Chick-fil-A for generations.”
“We have so much in store this year, delivering menu items and experiences that are fresh and exciting yet firmly rooted in Chick-fil-A’s renowned quality, care, generosity, and hospitality. We’re inviting Guests — old and new — to join us in celebrating our heritage, while looking ahead to the future with us,” continued Cooper as Chick-fil-A began offering frosted soda and floats — pairing fountain drinks with Icedream dessert — and collectible retro-style classic cups.
Starting today, Chick-fil-A kicks off a yearlong celebration launching new Frosted Sodas and Floats, four retro-style Classic Cups to purchase and collect, along with 3,000 Guests who have the chance to win big – free Chick-fil-A for a year*! Read more: https://t.co/ZUaGZA2QYd pic.twitter.com/ivCwMUew4f
— Chick-fil-A News (@ChickfilANews) January 5, 2026
Regarding the collector’s items, locations across the country had begun rolling out the first design available for $3.99 with an unspecified number of limited edition Gold Fan Cups mixed in. A total of 3,000 of the gold cups are planned to be sold — packaged as the others to conceal the design — that include a prize of 52 free entrées, amounting to “free Chick-fil-A for a year” in the way of one meal a week.
Among the disgruntled responses to cup sales, namely griping about how the collectibles couldn’t be used to get drinks at the fountain, many Chick-fil-A supporters from either side of the counter voiced complaints about the marketing effort when the price for meals and individual items continued to climb.
“I don’t care [about] the packaging. Just give us lower prices,” said one commenter on a Reddit thread, as another lamented, “How about making it so a plain chicken sandwich meal doesn’t cost $10 after tax in a low [cost of living] area?”
“They’ll do anything except for improve the food or lower prices,” voiced yet another complaint.
The special cups weren’t the only offering facing the brunt of online outrage as the special drinks were also met with frustration. As one user put it, “Yay, now we can make drinks and desserts even more complicated! These sound good, though.”
Meanwhile, despite a history of strong stands on Christian values, Newsmax host Todd Starnes reported that the chain hadn’t backed off corporate Marxism, posting on X, “Chick-fil-A has doubled down on its decision to create a DEI department. Chick-fil-A says they are ’embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in all that we do.’ Well, that explains the bitter aftertaste of their plant-based Cauliflower sandwich.”
Chick-fil-A has doubled down on its decision to create a DEI department. Chick-fil-A says they are “embedding diversity equity and inclusion in all that we do.” Well, that explains the bitter aftertaste of their plant-based Cauliflower sandwich. Read more: -… pic.twitter.com/XFZiFWO6gd
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) December 31, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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