TL;DR
Chick-fil-A owner-operator Jon Harmeling discusses his journey with the brand and his development of 10 AI systems for his store. Harmeling shares insights on how AI has impacted his leadership and store operations.
Chick-fil-A owner-operator Jon Harmeling, a former West Point instructor in systems engineering, joins QSR Uncut to chat about his journey with the category leader, but also to break down how he’s developed 10 AI systems that run inside his store. From forecasting to hiring to becoming a better leader, Harmeling continues to test and refine the homemade approach to thrive under margin pressure.
We talk about real-life examples, where it’s failed, how it’s made a massive difference in culture and recognition, and where it all goes from here. It’s an episode with actionable insights you won’t want to miss.
In this story
This story was originally published in QSR Magazine on August 6, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.
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