Inside Chick-fil-A’s New Daybright Concept

From chicken to chilled sips, Chick-fil-A Daybright is the brand’s newest experiment. Known for chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, the chain is stepping into drinks-only territory with a fresh restaurant concept opening in Georgia this fall.

Daybright: Chick-fil-A’s Bold New Beverage Venture

Daybright is being developed by Red Wagon Ventures, Chick-fil-A’s in-house incubator. 

The new restaurant will focus on specialty coffees, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and a small food selection. It’s designed to stand apart from the chain’s classic offerings and operate as its own brand.

The first location is expected to open in Hiram, Georgia, later this year. It won’t serve any of Chick-fil-A’s standard menu items but, instead, lean into a café-style atmosphere that highlights crafted drinks and light bites.

A Look at the Daybright Menu

While the menu is still under wraps, some confirmed items include:

• Smoothies

• Cold-pressed juices

• Specialty coffee drinks

Fans of Chick-fil-A lemonade or the original iced coffee won’t find them here, since Daybright is being positioned as a separate brand with its own identity.

Instead, the drinks will reflect current consumer interest in wellness-focused choices and premium coffee. 

We expect the options to be similar to what’s popular in juice bars and boutique coffee shops, rather than fast food. That will make Daybright coffee and smoothies a centerpiece of the experience.

Why Chick-fil-A Is Expanding into Beverages

The move into beverages reflects a larger trend across the fast-food industry. Specialty drinks are often higher margin than food, and they appeal to customers who want something new without committing to a full meal.

Taco Bell has expanded its Live Más Café, focusing on coffees and Refrescas. McDonald’s attempted a similar concept with CosMc’s in 2023, though those locations closed after two years. 

Chick-fil-A hopes Daybright will have more staying power by positioning itself as a calm, café-inspired space rather than a novelty brand.

The First Daybright Restaurant in Georgia

The debut restaurant will be a standalone location in the Greater Atlanta area. 

Georgia makes sense as a launch point, given Chick-fil-A’s headquarters are in Atlanta, and the state often serves as a testing ground for new concepts.

The company hasn’t announced whether more locations will follow but, if Daybright resonates with customers, it could expand into other major markets. 

If it struggles, Chick-fil-A can keep it contained under Red Wagon Ventures without disrupting its core restaurants.

Reactions To Daybright Chick-fil-A

Fans of the brand are curious to see how Daybright will compare to a regular Chick-fil-A. Without chicken sandwiches on the menu, the new space will have to earn loyalty through quality drinks and atmosphere.

Meanwhile, industry analysts are watching closely. The café and juice bar market is already crowded with Starbucks, Dunkin’, Dutch Bros, and endless independents. Daybright will need to stand out, whether through flavor innovation, pricing, or brand loyalty.

Make Your Day Bright with a Chick-fil-A Daybright

Chick-fil-A Daybright is a bold experiment, built around coffee, smoothies, and juices instead of fried chicken. 

Its curated menu and relaxed design will test whether the chain can thrive in the competitive beverage world. 

As the first Daybright restaurant opens in Georgia, customers and competitors alike will be watching to see if this new direction takes off.