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| Chick fil a is the best | |||
| {{Infobox company | |||
| | name = Chick-fil-A | |||
| | company_logo = ] | |||
| | type = ] | |||
| | foundation = 1946 (first Dwarf House opened in ])<br>1967 (first Chick-fil-A opened in ]) | |||
| | location = ], U.S. | |||
| | key_people = ], <small>Chairman, CEO</small><br>Dan T. Cathy, <small>President, COO</small> '' | |||
| | revenue = {{profit}}]4.0 billion (2011) | |||
| | industry = ] | |||
| | products = ]es, ] | |||
| | website = | |||
| }} | |||
| ] in ], Texas]] | |||
| ] | |||
| ], Texas]] | |||
| ]]] | |||
| '''Chick-fil-A''' (pronounced {{IPA-en|ˌtʃɪk fɨˈleɪ|}}, referring to ]) is a quick service ] headquartered in ], ], specializing in ] ]s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chick-fil-a.com/#facts|title=Company Fact Sheet|accessdate= May 19, 2009}} "Headquarters Chick-fil-A, Inc. 5200 Buffington Road Atlanta, GA 30349-2998"</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collegeparkga.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=67|title= City Maps ] | accessdate=May 25, 2009}}</ref><!--Check the address--> and is known for promoting the company founder's Christian values.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html|title=The Cult of Chick-Fil-A|author=Emily Schmall|work=Forbes.com|publisher=Forbes Media|date=July 7, 2007|accessdate=January 5, 2011}}</ref> Long associated with the ], where it has been a cultural icon, the chain has expanded. {{As of|2012|April}}, Chick-fil-A has 1,614 restaurants in 38 ] and the ], and is focusing future growth in the American ] and ].<ref>"Chick-fil-A Celebrates 1,500th Restaurant Location, Continued Sales Growth in 2010", Chick-fil-A press release, August 2010 </ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| Chick-fil-A had historically been identified with ]s, as most of its original restaurants were in their food courts. Its first freestanding store opened in 1986; most of its new restaurants also are freestanding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chickfila.com/?#history |title=Chick-fil-A |publisher=Chick-fil-A |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref> As of 2012, the chain has over 1000 such units.<ref name="chickfila.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.chickfila.com/?#facts |title=Chick-fil-A |publisher=Chick-fil-A |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref> It also has over two dozen ]-only locations.<ref name="chickfila.com"/> Chick-fil-A also can be found at universities, hospitals, and airports through licensing agreements.<ref name="chickfila.com"/> | |||
| The chain grew from the Dwarf Grill (later the ], a name still used by the chain), a restaurant opened by ], who is still the company's chairman, in the ], Georgia suburb of ] in 1946.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chickfila.com/?#story |title=Chick-fil-A |publisher=Chick-fil-A |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref> This restaurant is near the now-demolished Ford plant, where some workers ate between shifts. | |||
| The first Chick-fil-A that is in a mall opened in Atlanta's ] in 1967.<ref></ref> The company's current trademarked<ref>{{cite web|title=We Didn't Invent the Chicken, Just the Chicken Sandwich|url=http://trademark.markify.com/trademarks/uspto/we+didn't+invent+the+chicken,+just+the+chicken+sandwich/74702997|work=Detailed trademark information from the official US federal trademark database (USPTO)|publisher=Trademark.Markify.Com|accessdate=November 1, 2011}}</ref> slogan, ''"We Didn't Invent the Chicken, Just the Chicken Sandwich,"'' refers to their flagship menu-item, the popular quick-serve or fast-food chicken sandwich. In 1961, Cathy found a pressure-fryer that could cook the sandwich chicken in the same amount of time it took to cook a fast-food hamburger.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nickerson|first=Michelle|title=Sunbelt Rising: The Politics of Place, Space, and Region|year=2011|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|pages=295|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ySPdXiVbsakC&pg=PA295#v=onepage&q&f=false|coauthors=Darren Dochuk|accessdate=November 1, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| ==Sponsored events== | |||
| ;Chick-fil-A Classic | |||
| :The Chick-fil-A Classic is a high school ] tournament held in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chick-fil-aclassic.com/ |title=Welcome to 8th Annual Chick-Fil-A Classic.com |publisher=Chick-fil-aclassic.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref> The tournament is in its eighth year of operation and features nationally ranked players and teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chick-fil-aclassic.com/gceaf.shtml |title=GCEAF |publisher=Chick-Fil-A Classic |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref> The tournament is co-sponsored by the Greater Columbia Educational Advancement Foundation (GCEAF) which provides scholarships to high school seniors in the greater Columbia area. | |||
| ;] | |||
| :Formerly known as the Peach Bowl, the Chick-fil-A Bowl is a ] ] played each year in ] between teams from the ] and the ]. | |||
| ;] | |||
| :The Chick-fil-A College Kickoff is an annual early-season college football game played at the ] in Atlanta, Georgia. It features two highly ranked teams, one of which has always been from the Southeastern Conference. Starting with the 2012 season, the event will be expanded to two games. | |||
| ;] | |||
| :The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is an annual charity motorcycle tour to raise money for, among other charities, the ] for terminally ill children. | |||
| ==Related restaurants== | |||
| ===The Hapeville Dwarf House=== | |||
| Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant, The Dwarf Grill-later renamed the Dwarf House—, in Hapeville GA in 1946 and developed the pressure-cooked chicken breast sandwich there.<ref>http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Company/Highlights-Fact-Sheets</ref> | |||
| At the original Chick-fil-A Dwarf Grill, in addition to the full-size entrances, there is also an extra small-sized front door.<ref name = "Daily Meal">{{cite web|last=Bovino|first=Arthur|title=Sandwich of the Week: Dwarf House Chick-fil-A, The Dwarf House in Atlanta — the original Chick-fil-A|url=http://www.thedailymeal.com/sandwich-week-chick-fil|work=The Daily Meal|accessdate=November 3, 2011}}</ref> The original Dwarf House in Hapeville, Georgia is open 24 hours a day, six days a week, except on Sundays (when it closes at 4 a.m. on Sunday mornings and reopens at 6 a.m. on Monday mornings). It has a larger dine-in menu than the other Dwarf House locations as well as an animated seven dwarfs display in the back of the restaurant.<ref name = "Daily Meal"/> | |||
| ===Dwarf House™=== | |||
| Truett's original, full-service Restaurants offer an extensive menu and provide customers a choice of table service, walk-up counter service or a drive-thru window. Eleven Chick-fil-A Dwarf House restaurants currently operate in the metro Atlanta area. | |||
| ===Truett's Grill=== | |||
| In 1996, the first Truett's Grill was opened in ]. The second location opened in 2003 in ], and a third location opened in 2006 in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.truettsgrill.com/ |title=Truett's Grill |publisher=Truettsgrill.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref> Similar to the Chick-fil-A Dwarf Houses, these independently owned restaurants offer traditional, sit-down dining and expanded menu selections in a diner-themed atmosphere. One major difference to other Chick-fil-A restaurants, however, is the fact that beef products are served there, including steaks and hamburgers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfarestaurant.com/truettsgrill-griffin/home |title=Chick-fil-A: Truett's Grill - Griffin |publisher=Cfarestaurant.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfarestaurant.com/truettsgrill-mcdonough/home |title=Chick-fil-A: Truett's Grill - McDonough |publisher=Cfarestaurant.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfarestaurant.com/truettsgrillmorrow/home |title=Chick-fil-A: Truett's Grill - Morrow |publisher=Cfarestaurant.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref> | |||
| ==Religious and political views== | |||
| S. Truett Cathy is a devout ]; his religious beliefs have a major impact on the company.<ref>{{cite news|title=The World's Billionaires, #655 S. Truett Cathy|url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_S-Truett-Cathy_AARY.html|work=Forbes.Com|publisher=Forbes Publishing|accessdate=November 3, 2011|date=March 10, 2010}}</ref> The company's official statement of corporate purpose says that the business exists "To glorify ] by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Press/Bios/Dan |title= Executive Biographies: Dan T. Cathy, President and Chief Operating Officer |accessdate= 2012-03-23 |publisher=Chick-fil-A}}</ref> Cathy's beliefs are also responsible for one of the chain's distinctive features: All Chick-fil-A locations (company-owned and franchised, whether in a mall or freestanding) are ], as well as on ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chick-fil-a.com/?#faqs |title=Chick-fil-A |publisher=Chick-fil-A |date= |accessdate=2010-06-18}}</ref> Cathy states as the final step in his Five-Step recipe for Business Success "I was not so committed to financial success that I was willing to abandon my principles and priorities. One of the most visible examples of this is our decision to close on Sunday. Our decision to close on Sunday was our way of honoring God and of directing our attention to things that mattered more than our business"<ref>. S. Truett Cathy. Retrieved on May 26, 2009.</ref> | |||
| In an interview with ABC News's '']'', Dan Cathy, Truett's son, gave reporter ] another reason why the company is closed on Sundays, saying his father opened his first restaurant on a Tuesday and "by the time Sunday came, he was just worn out. And Sunday was not a big trading day, anyway, at the time. So he was closed that first Sunday and we've been closed ever since. He figured if he didn't like working on Sundays, that other people didn't either." The younger Cathy quoted his father as saying "'I don't want to ask people to do that what I am not willing to do myself.'"<ref>{{cite web|title=Nightline''(ABC-TV)'' presents: Chik-fil-A Wins Customers ... by closing|publisher=ABC News|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/10Commandments/ten-commandments-sabbath-holy-chick-fila-closes-sundays/story?id=8570384&page=3|date=September 23, 2009|accessdate=September 19, 2010}}</ref><!--STOP: Before proceeding to change the wording in the above quoted sentences; you will be adding unsourced material to an article and that is against Misplaced Pages guidelines. The above sentences enclosed by quote marks are a direct quote of what Dan Cathy said in an interview with Vicki Mabrey. It is not what someone thinks Dan Cathy said or what someone think he should have said; it is *exactly* what he, a living person(per WP:BLP) said in a specific interview as sourced on the ABCNews website.--> Chick-fil-A has also promoted religious groups via toys and CDs included in children's meals.<ref name="adventuresinodyssey">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalpraise.com/pr/10172005.html|title=Focus on the Family, Digital Praise Spice Up Chick-fil-A Kid's Meals Through 'Adventures In Odyssey' CD Giveaway}}</ref> | |||
| ==Controversy== | |||
| Chick-fil-A's connection to Christianity has been brought before the courts when Aziz Latif, a Houston-based Muslim employee for six years, sued the company in 2002 for firing him, alleging that he was fired for his religious beliefs when he had refused to take part in an employee prayer.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_44_36/ai_94131554 | work=Nation's Restaurant News | title=Muslim sues Chick-fil-A over on-the-job prayer | first=Ron | last=Ruggless | year=2002}}</ref> The suit was settled on undisclosed terms.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html |title=The Cult of Chick-fil-A |publisher=Forbes.com |date= July 23, 2007|accessdate=2011-06-27}}</ref> | |||
| ===Anti-gay allegations=== | |||
| In January 2011, various news outlets<ref name="joemygod.blogspot.com">{{cite web|url=http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/01/chick-fil-vanishes-from-anti-gay-event.html |title=Joe. My. God.: Chick-Fil-A Vanishes From Anti-Gay Event |publisher=Joemygod.blogspot.com |date=2011-01-04 |accessdate=2011-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=duy |url=http://www.metroweekly.com/news/last_word/2011/01/is-chick-fil-a-restaurant-chai.html |title=Metro Weekly |publisher=Metro Weekly |date=2011-01-04 |accessdate=2011-06-27}}</ref> reported that Chick-fil-A was co-sponsoring a marriage conference<ref name="joemygod.blogspot.com"/> along with the Pennsylvania Family Institute,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/01/if-youre-currently-eating-a-chick-fil-a.html |title=If you're currently eating a Chick-fil-A... — Good As You:: Gay and Lesbian Activism With a Sense of Humor |publisher=Good As You |date= |accessdate=2011-06-27}}</ref> a 501(c)3 organization that seeks to "strengthen families by restoring to public life the traditional, foundational principles and values essential for the well-being of society".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pafamily.org/index.php?pID=6 |title=Pennsylvania Family Institute Mission Statement |publisher=Pafamily.org |date= |accessdate=2011-06-27}}</ref> PFI had filed an ] against the trial ruling striking down ] in California,<ref>{{cite web|author=Karen Ocamb |url=http://www.lgbtpov.com/2010/09/the-antigay-right-wing-files-an-avalanche-of-opposition-to-the-prop-8-trial-ruling/ |title=The Antigay Right Wing Files an Avalanche of Opposition to the Prop 8 Trial Ruling : LGBT | POV |publisher=Lgbtpov.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-27}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=March 2012}} and had also lobbied against a state effort to ban discrimination in Pennsylvania on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/12/23/news/doc4d13af7c9caf8699498675.txt |title=Without state law, Pa. towns tackle anti-gay bias |date=December 23, 2010 |first=Mark |last=Scolforo |agency=] |work=]}}</ref> At the time, the ] was also quoted as stating it would not allow same-sex couples to participate in its marriage retreats.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hooper|first=Jeremy|title=Here's what Chick-Fil-A defenders don't understand: The more they shoot the messenger, the more we're going to dig up new messages!|url=http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/01/heres-what-chick-fil-a-doesnt-understand-the-more-their-defenders-shoot-the-messenger-the-more-were-going-to-dig-up-new.html|publisher=Good As You|accessdate=December 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Michael|title=Yes, Chick-fil-A Says, We Explicitly Do Not Like Same-Sex Couples|url=http://news.change.org/stories/yes-chick-fil-a-says-we-explicitly-do-not-like-same-sex-couples|publisher=Change.Org|accessdate=December 2, 2011|date=January 26, 2011}}</ref> In response to the reported connections between PFI and WinShape, students at several colleges and universities formed grassroots efforts to ban or remove the company from their campuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.change.org/stories/students-challenge-chick-fil-as-ties-to-anti-gay-organizations |title=Students Challenge Chick-fil-A's Ties to Anti-Gay Organizations |first=Michael |last=Jones |date=February 2, 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| Responding to the situation via their official company Facebook page, Chick-fil-A said: | |||
| {{Block quote|First and foremost, thanks for your patience as we made sure we gathered the facts in regards to recent postings. We have determined that one of our independent Restaurant Operators in Pennsylvania was asked to provide sandwiches to two Art of Marriage video seminars. As our fans, you know we do our best to serve our local communities, and one of the ways we do that is by providing food to schools, colleges, civic groups, businesses, places of worship, not-for-profit groups, etc. At his discretion, the local Operator agreed to simply provide a limited amount of food. Our Chick-fil-A Operators and their employees try very hard every day to go the extra mile in serving ALL of our customers with honor, dignity and respect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ChickfilA/posts/188388574507039 |title=Chick-fil-A Facebook Page |publisher=Facebook |date=January 6, 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-23}}</ref>}} | |||
| According to Chick-Fil-A's 990 IRS forms, the charitable WinShape (largely funded by Chick-fil-A) gave more than $2 million to anti-gay groups between 2003 and 2009, the majority in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/franchising/16713835-1.html|title=Chick-fil-A Increases Donations to Anti-Gay Groups|first1=Tim|last1=Devaney|first2=Tom|last2=Stein|work=]|date=November 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/52888536-78/gay-chick-family-fil.html.csp|title=Sugar House protesters say Chick-fil-A is anti-gay|first=Rosemary|last=Winters|date=November 10, 2011|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/chick-fil-a-donated-anti-gay-groups-2009_n_1069429.html|title=Chick-Fil-A Fast Food Chain Donated Nearly $2 Million To Anti-Gay Groups In 2009|date=November 1, 2011|work=]|first=Noah|last=Michelson}}</ref> This has caused consternation for advocates that have denounced the chain over its support of groups opposed to gay and lesbian rights, and led to Northeastern University's Student Senate voted on February 28, 2012 to cancel plans for an on-campus Chick-fil-A restaurant<ref>{{cite web|url = http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-28/yourtown/31108665_1_student-newspaper-student-center-student-concerns|title = Northeastern cancels Chick-fil-A plans after student group denounces chain|date = February 28, 2012|author = Matt Rocheleau|publisher = }}</ref>. | |||
| Chick-Fil-A has given over $8 million to Winshape based on Winshape's 2010 990 IRS form.<ref>http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/581/595/2010-581595471-07c2a7b1-F.pdf</ref> | |||
| November 3, 2011 the New York University Student Senators Council voted 19 to 4 to retain the Chick-fil-A franchise on campus. This vote came before a petition with over 11,000 signatures opposing its presence on campus was sent to the student council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nyulocal.com/on-campus/2012/03/05/student-council-voted-to-keep-homophobic-chick-fil-a-long-before-petition-launched|title=NYU Decided To Keep “Homophobic” Chick-fil-A Long Before Petition Launched}}</ref> | |||
| ==State of California court case== | |||
| In 2006 a lawsuit was brought by the ] against ], ], ], ], ], ] and Chick-fil-A.<ref>{{cite web|title=PCRM Files Lawsuit Over Carcinogens in Grilled Chicken|url=http://www.pcrm.org/search/?cid=1860|publisher=]|accessdate=November 3, 2011}}</ref> The organization asserted that cooking certain meats, including chicken, at high temperatures causes the meat to contain the chemical ], a compound which had caused cancer in lab rats and mice.<ref name = "NIH">{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cooked-meats|title=Chemicals in Meat Cooked at High Temperatures and Cancer Risk|publisher=National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health|accessdate=2011-11-03}}</ref> A 2009 ruling for the defendants was followed by an August 2010 appeal decided in favor of the plaintiffs.<ref name = "LA Times">{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/08/chicken-cancer-fast-food-restaurants-appeals-court-ruling.html|title=In cancer-warning fight, court rules against California restaurants|author=P. J. Hufstutter|date=August 13, 2010|publisher=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=2011-10-27}}</ref> The matter has not been legally resolved and is still before the courts of California.<ref name = "LA Times"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Grilled Chicken Can Cause Cancer; Plaintiff's Claim Requiring Restaurant to Warn Consumers Moves Forward|url=http://www.taftlaw.com/news/publications/detail/699-grilled-chicken-can-cause-cancer-plaintiff-s-claim-requiring-restaurant-to-warn-consumers-moves-forward|publisher=Taft Law (Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP)|accessdate=November 3, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{reflist|30em}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Portal|Atlanta|Companies|Food}} | |||
| {{commons|Chick-Fil-A}} | |||
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Revision as of 16:24, 20 May 2012
Chick fil a is the best