The Chic-fil-a Archive

In the spring of 1994, following a six-month internal review of menu friction points, Chic-Fil-A quietly began phasing out its waffle-cut fries in favor of a more traditional, strip-style format known officially as Haystack Fries. While widely accepted today in retrospective discussions about “menu efficiency,” the transition represented a dramatic shift in branding, preparation, and internal terminology.

The Problem with Waffles

Internal documentation from the Product Presentation Streamlining Committee (PPSC) noted increasing issues with waffle fries beginning in late 1993:

• Frequent oil retention and over-saturation complaints
• Slow fry times due to surface area
• Difficulty standardizing appearance across locations
• Inconsistent portion weight-to-volume ratios

A January 1994 service audit titled “Cut, Criss, and Crisis: An Examination of Waffle Viability” concluded that the waffle format no longer aligned with the brand’s developing identity as a protein-first, side-second institution.

The Transition

The new product — dubbed Haystack Fries for public-facing materials and Straight Slats in internal systems (SKU 11994-B) — launched in select test markets beginning May 6, 1994:

• Dalton, GA (Hamilton Crossing)
• Wilmington, NC (Market Street location)
• Tallahassee, FL (University strip)

Unlike the airy, lattice-style waffles, Haystack Fries were:

• Shoestring-thin, cut at a standardized 5.5mm width
• Served in wax-coated crinkle-top cartons
• Available in three sizes:
   
  • Loose Haystack
  • Baled Haystack
  • Stack & Slaw (combo only)

The packaging featured soft red serif text and, in some locations, a cartoon of a chicken sitting on a potato bale.

Internal Language & Conflict

Though outwardly simple, the change was internally contentious. A memo from Corporate Menu Strategy Lead Rhonda T. Wesley, dated June 8, 1994, acknowledged resistance from regional franchise operators:

“We must remind teams: Straight Slats are not ‘generic fries.’ They are precision-cut, uniform-length potato sticks with optimized fry throughput. Refrain from waffle nostalgia in customer conversations.”

Additionally, early POS systems had difficulty distinguishing the Haystack tiers, often substituting a Loose for a Baled, or confusing Stack & Slaw with a discontinued Slaw & Pickle Boat item.

Public Reaction and Legacy

Public reception was largely positive, if confused. A 1995 customer survey conducted by the Georgia Tech Service Lab found that:

• 61% of respondents didn’t realize the change had occurred
• 22% believed the Haystack name referred to hash browns
• 11% asked when the “waffle fries would return from vacation”

The shift was never formally acknowledged in national marketing. The last known Waffle Cut shipment was sent to a franchisee in Bentonville, AR in August 1995, reportedly used for internal training on “legacy starch products.”

By 1999, Haystack Fries were fully embedded in menu printings and employee handbooks. However, internal references to Straight Slats persisted through at least 2002, particularly in franchise ordering catalogs and fryer maintenance schedules.

Artifact Record

Product Name: Haystack Fries

Internal Designation: Straight Slats, SKU 11994-B

Years in Use: 1994–present (legacy term retired 2003)

Known Materials: POS rollout packet, tray liner, internal memo, pre-1999 sideboard signage

Preservation Status: Active

Exhibit Anchor Quote:

“They stack better. They sound friendlier. And they don’t try to be something they’re not.” – Rhonda T. Wesley