By Leon Stafford

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chick-fil-A says its annual sales have exceeded $4 billion for the first in the company's 45-year history.

The Atlanta-based chain had $4.1 billion in sales in 2011, up more than 13 percent over 2010, the privately owned company said Monday. Same-store sales also increased 7 percent in 2011 over the prior 12 months, the 44th consecutive time annual sales have grown compared to the prior year.

"Of all our years of sales growth, we are humbled and deeply grateful to our customers for making 2011 particularly exceptional," Dan Cathy, the company's president and chief operating 0fficer, said in a statement.

The number of Chick-fil-A stores surpassed 1,600 locations in 2011 -- 92 locations were new -- and the company introduced new breakfast menu products, a spicy chicken biscuit and multigrain oatmeal.

Same-store sales at Atlanta Chick-fil-A locations were up 5 percent in 2011 over 2010.  There were 135 Chick-fil-A restaurants in metro Atlanta at the end of last year.

The company said it plans to add 92 new locations around the country in 2012 and create nearly 7,000 jobs from new openings and growth at  existing stores.