Chick-fil-A is venturing into the world of specialty beverages by opening a new concept called Daybright in the Greater Atlanta area.
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Chick-fil-A has officially opened a new beverage-focused concept called Daybright, the fast casual chicken chain confirmed to USA TODAY.
The restaurant opened in Hiram, Georgia, on Thursday, Oct. 30, and serves “handcrafted coffee beverages, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and food made with simple ingredients,” a company spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement.
Chick-fil-A said Daybright features both a dual-lane drive-thru and a full dining room, and will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Daybright will be operated as a standalone concept by Red Wagon Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Chick-fil-A Inc., but will not feature the fast-food chain’s menu items. Red Wagon Ventures was established in January 2017 to “create new concepts and services beyond Chick-fil-A restaurants, with a mission of exploring new ventures,” the company said in a statement emailed to USA TODAY on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
“With schedules busier than ever, we know people are looking for easy, convenient ways to enjoy quality food and beverages,” said David Farmer, vice president of Red Wagon Ventures, LLC, in a news release. “Daybright is designed with this in mind, offering delicious beverages and portable bites intended to delight customers and help boost their busy days.”
Chick-fil-A has previously expanded into other business ventures. In 2023, the company opened Little Blue Menu, a restaurant in College Park, Maryland, serving up Chick-fil-A classics alongside wings and burgers.
What does Daybright serve?
According to Chick-fil-A, the Daybright menu will serve:
- Signature coffees
- Iced teas and lemonades
- Fizzes (bubbly, sparkling beverages made with fruit juices)
- Smoothies
- Bright pressed juices
- Daily donuts
- Hot takes (warm sandwiches, a pressed burrito, English muffins filled with delicious ingredients, other tasty bites made for easy dining on the go)
- A kid’s menu that features “kid-friendly versions of breakfast favorites,” including a PB&J and sippable smoothie treats.
Other fast food chains have tried similar beverage-focused concepts
Other fast food chains have tested, or plan to open, similar concepts to Chick-fil-A’s Daybright.
This year, Taco Bell expanded its Live Más Café after test-launching it in California in 2024. The café offers a wide selection of beverages, including specialty coffees and a newly launched Refrescas, which are drinks crafted to “quench every kind of craving – whether you’re seeking a refreshing sip, an energizing boost or a frozen escape.”
Taco Bell plans to open 30 of the locations across Texas and Southern California by 2025. The café will also serve popular Taco Bell menu items.
McDonald’s similarly tried a beverage concept called CosMc’s in 2023. The five alien-themed locations closed just two years after launching, but the company said it would bring the CosMc’s drinks to McDonald’s locations across the United States.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com
