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Revision as of 00:07, 3 August 2012 view sourceJokestress (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers50,851 edits Controversy regarding same-sex marriage stance: tighten first 2 paragraphs. this is way too long← Previous edit Revision as of 00:15, 3 August 2012 view source Jokestress (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers50,851 edits Controversy regarding same-sex marriage stance: tighten moreNext edit →
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{{POV-section|date=August 2012}} {{POV-section|date=August 2012}}
{{Main|2012 Chick-fil-A gay-marriage freedom of speech controversy}} {{Main|2012 Chick-fil-A gay-marriage freedom of speech controversy}}
In January 2011, the media reported that Chick-fil-A was co-sponsoring a marriage conference along with the Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI), an organization that has opposed LGBT rights legislation in California and Pennsyvania.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/01/31/chick-fil-a-defends-its-values.html | title=Chick-fil-A defends its values | publisher=Atlanta Business Chronicle | accessdate=July 29, 2012 | author=January 31, 2011}}</ref><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><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><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><ref>{{cite web|last=Ocamb|first=Karen|title=Evaluating the amicus brief avalanche of anti-gay opposition to the Prop 8 trial decision|url=http://www.prop8trialtracker.com/2010/09/26/evaluating-the-amicus-brief-avalanche-of-anti-gay-opposition-to-the-prop-8-trial-decision/|publisher=Prop8TrialTracker.Com|accessdate=July 19, 2012|date=September 26, 2010}}</ref><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> Chick-fil-A explained the PFI retreat support, stating "one of our independent Restaurant Operators in Pennsylvania was asked to provide sandwiches to two Art of Marriage video seminars."<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> The Chick-fil-A funded ] also stated it would not allow same-sex couples to participate in its marriage retreats.<ref name=wsj>{{cite news|last=McWhirter|first=Cameron|title=Chick-fil-A's Long Christian Heritage|url=http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444840104577553341868014390.html?mg=reno64-wsj|accessdate=July 31, 2012|newspaper=]|date=July 27, 2012}}</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> Chick-fil-A gave over $8 million to the WinShape Foundation in 2010.<ref name=990PF-2010>{{cite web |title= Form 990-PF: Return of Private Foundation |year= 2010 |work= WinShape Foundation, Inc. |format= pdf |publisher= Guidestar |url= http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/581/595/2010-581595471-07c2a7b1-F.pdf }}</ref> Between 2003 and 2009, the WinShape Foundation gave more than $2 million to groups such as ] and ] that are politically active in opposing same-sex marriage and other gay rights issues.<ref name=Devaney>{{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 name=Winters>{{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 name= Michelson>{{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> In January 2011, the media reported that Chick-fil-A was co-sponsoring a marriage conference along with the Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI), an organization that has opposed LGBT rights legislation in California and Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/01/31/chick-fil-a-defends-its-values.html | title=Chick-fil-A defends its values | publisher=Atlanta Business Chronicle | accessdate=July 29, 2012 | author=January 31, 2011}}</ref><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><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><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><ref>{{cite web|last=Ocamb|first=Karen|title=Evaluating the amicus brief avalanche of anti-gay opposition to the Prop 8 trial decision|url=http://www.prop8trialtracker.com/2010/09/26/evaluating-the-amicus-brief-avalanche-of-anti-gay-opposition-to-the-prop-8-trial-decision/|publisher=Prop8TrialTracker.Com|accessdate=July 19, 2012|date=September 26, 2010}}</ref><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> Chick-fil-A explained the PFI retreat support, stating "one of our independent Restaurant Operators in Pennsylvania was asked to provide sandwiches to two Art of Marriage video seminars."<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> The ] also stated it would not allow same-sex couples to participate in its marriage retreats.<ref name=wsj>{{cite news|last=McWhirter|first=Cameron|title=Chick-fil-A's Long Christian Heritage|url=http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444840104577553341868014390.html?mg=reno64-wsj|accessdate=July 31, 2012|newspaper=]|date=July 27, 2012}}</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> Chick-fil-A has donated millions to the WinShape Foundation, which then gave millions to groups including ] and ] that are politically active in opposing same-sex marriage and other gay rights issues.<ref name=990PF-2010>{{cite web |title= Form 990-PF: Return of Private Foundation |year= 2010 |work= WinShape Foundation, Inc. |format= pdf |publisher= Guidestar |url= http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/581/595/2010-581595471-07c2a7b1-F.pdf }}</ref><ref name=Devaney>{{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 name=Winters>{{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 name= Michelson>{{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><ref name=dm23Jul>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2177807/The-Muppets-Jim-Henderson-company-cut-ties-Chick-Fil-A-restaurant-presidents-anti-gay-marriage-comments.html#ixzz21a3n5VIH |title=The Muppets cut ties with Chick-Fil-A restaurant after president's anti-gay marriage comments|date=July 23, 2012|work=]|first=Alex|last=Ward|accessdate=2012-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://equalitymatters.org/factcheck/201207020001 |title=Chick-Fil-A Donated Nearly $2 Million To Anti-Gay Groups In 2010 |date=July 2, 2012 |publisher=Equality Matters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Boucly|first=Chris|title=Gay youths plan protest against Chick-fil-A |url=http://www.ocregister.com/news/family-365324-chick-fil.html |accessdate=July 26, 2012|newspaper=The Orange County Register |date=July 24, 2012|quote=$3.84 million was contributed primarily to Christian organizations such as Marriage and Family Foundation, which received $1.18 million, and Family Research Council, which received $1,000. The Family Research Council "believes that homosexual conduct is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large," according to its Web site. The Marriage and Family Foundation, whose chairman is Chick-fil-A senior vice president Donald Cathy, gave grants totaling $639,000 to six organizations that support strong traditional marriages and families.}}</ref>


In response, students at several colleges and universities formed grassroots efforts to ban or remove the company's restaurants 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> On November 3, 2011, the ] 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> On February 28, 2012, the ] student Senate passed a resolution to cancel plans for a Chick-fil-A franchise on campus, stating that "the student body does not support bringing CFA to campus," and "Student concerns reflected CFA's history of donating to anti-gay organizations." The vote was 31 to 5, with 8 abstaining. The restaurant chain was finalizing a contract to bring it to NU when students protested.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rocheleau|first=Matt|title=Northeastern cancels Chick-fil-A plans after student group denounces chain|url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-28/yourtown/31108665_1_student-newspaper-student-center-student-concerns|accessdate=19 July 2012|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=February 28, 2012}}</ref> In response, students at several colleges and universities formed grassroots efforts to ban or remove the company's restaurants 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> On November 3, 2011, the ] 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> On February 28, 2012, the ] student Senate passed a resolution to cancel plans for a Chick-fil-A franchise on campus, stating that "the student body does not support bringing CFA to campus," and "Student concerns reflected CFA's history of donating to anti-gay organizations." The vote was 31 to 5, with 8 abstaining. The restaurant chain was finalizing a contract to bring it to NU when students protested.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rocheleau|first=Matt|title=Northeastern cancels Chick-fil-A plans after student group denounces chain|url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-28/yourtown/31108665_1_student-newspaper-student-center-student-concerns|accessdate=19 July 2012|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=February 28, 2012}}</ref>


On June 16, while on a syndicated radio talk show, ''The Ken Coleman Show'', Chick-fil-A ] Dan Cathy made what was seen as an inflammatory statement. Cathy stated: "I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.' I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."<ref>{{cite news|last=Starnes|first=Todd|title=Rahm: “Chick-fil-A Values Are Not Chicago Values”|url=http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/cities-move-to-ban-chick-fil-a-supporters-launch-day-of-support.html|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=Fox News Radio|date=July 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Collier|first=Myles|title=Chick-fil-A President Says 'God's Judgment' Coming Because of Same-Sex Marriage | url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/chick-fil-a-president-says-gods-judgment-coming-because-of-same-sex-marriage-78485/#SUuZKIURo5MhCW2p.99|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=The Christian Post|date=July 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|title=What Dan Cathy said |url=http://www.ajc.com/business/what-dan-cathy-said-1484986.html|accessdate=28 July 2012|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> After Chick-fil-A ] ] made several public statements opposing same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news|last=Starnes|first=Todd|title=Rahm: “Chick-fil-A Values Are Not Chicago Values”|url=http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/cities-move-to-ban-chick-fil-a-supporters-launch-day-of-support.html|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=Fox News Radio|date=July 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Collier|first=Myles|title=Chick-fil-A President Says 'God's Judgment' Coming Because of Same-Sex Marriage | url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/chick-fil-a-president-says-gods-judgment-coming-because-of-same-sex-marriage-78485/#SUuZKIURo5MhCW2p.99|accessdate=26 July 2012|newspaper=The Christian Post|date=July 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|title=What Dan Cathy said |url=http://www.ajc.com/business/what-dan-cathy-said-1484986.html|accessdate=28 July 2012|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 26, 2012}}</ref>


On July 2, 2012, the LGBT ] ] published a report with details of donations given by Chick-fil-A to organizations that are opposed to same-sex marriage, such as the ] and the ].<ref name=dm23Jul>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2177807/The-Muppets-Jim-Henderson-company-cut-ties-Chick-Fil-A-restaurant-presidents-anti-gay-marriage-comments.html#ixzz21a3n5VIH |title=The Muppets cut ties with Chick-Fil-A restaurant after president's anti-gay marriage comments|date=July 23, 2012|work=]|first=Alex|last=Ward|accessdate=2012-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://equalitymatters.org/factcheck/201207020001 |title=Chick-Fil-A Donated Nearly $2 Million To Anti-Gay Groups In 2010 |date=July 2, 2012 |publisher=Equality Matters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Boucly|first=Chris|title=Gay youths plan protest against Chick-fil-A |url=http://www.ocregister.com/news/family-365324-chick-fil.html |accessdate=July 26, 2012|newspaper=The Orange County Register |date=July 24, 2012|quote=$3.84 million was contributed primarily to Christian organizations such as Marriage and Family Foundation, which received $1.18 million, and Family Research Council, which received $1,000. The Family Research Council "believes that homosexual conduct is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large," according to its Web site. The Marriage and Family Foundation, whose chairman is Chick-fil-A senior vice president Donald Cathy, gave grants totaling $639,000 to six organizations that support strong traditional marriages and families.}}</ref> Also, on July 2, '']'' published an interview with Dan Cathy, who was asked about opposition to his company's "support of the traditional family." He replied: "Well, guilty as charged."<ref name="Biblical Recorder">{{cite news|last=Blume|first=K. Allan|title=‘Guilty as charged,’ Dan Cathy says of Chick-fil-A’s stand on faith|url=http://www.brnow.org/News/July-2012/%E2%80%98Guilty-as-charged,%E2%80%99-Dan-Cathy-says-of-Chick-fil-A|accessdate=22 July 2012|newspaper=Biblical Recorder|date=2 July 2012|agency=North Carolina Baptist State Convention|location=Cary, NC|quote="as an organization we can operate on biblical principles."}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hsu|first=Tiffany|title=Is Chick-fil-A anti-gay marriage? 'Guilty as charged,' leader says|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-chick-fil-a-gay-20120718,0,3020372.story|accessdate=19 July 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> Cathy continued: On July 2, 2012, the LGBT ] ] published a report with details of donations given by Chick-fil-A to organizations that are opposed to same-sex marriage, such as the ] and the ]. Also, on July 2, '']'' published an interview with Dan Cathy, who was asked about opposition to his company's "support of the traditional family." He replied: "Well, guilty as charged."<ref name="Biblical Recorder">{{cite news|last=Blume|first=K. Allan|title=‘Guilty as charged,’ Dan Cathy says of Chick-fil-A’s stand on faith|url=http://www.brnow.org/News/July-2012/%E2%80%98Guilty-as-charged,%E2%80%99-Dan-Cathy-says-of-Chick-fil-A|accessdate=22 July 2012|newspaper=Biblical Recorder|date=2 July 2012|agency=North Carolina Baptist State Convention|location=Cary, NC|quote="as an organization we can operate on biblical principles."}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hsu|first=Tiffany|title=Is Chick-fil-A anti-gay marriage? 'Guilty as charged,' leader says|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-chick-fil-a-gay-20120718,0,3020372.story|accessdate=19 July 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> Cathy continued:
{{Block quote|"We are very much supportive of the family&nbsp;— the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that. ...&nbsp;We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized. {{Block quote|"We are very much supportive of the family&nbsp;— the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that. ...&nbsp;We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.
"We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."<ref name="Biblical Recorder"/>}} "We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."<ref name="Biblical Recorder"/>}}

Revision as of 00:15, 3 August 2012

This article appears to be slanted towards recent events. Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective and add more content related to non-recent events. (July 2012)
Chick-fil-A
File:Chick-fil-A.svg
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurants
Founded1946 (first Dwarf House opened in Hapeville, Georgia)
1967 (first Chick-fil-A opened in Atlanta, Georgia)
HeadquartersCollege Park, Georgia, U.S.
Key peopleS. Truett Cathy, Chairman, CEO
Dan T. Cathy, President, COO
ProductsSandwiches, chicken entrées
RevenueIncreaseUS$4.0 billion (2011)
Websitechick-fil-a.com
A Chick-fil-A in the food court of The Galleria in Uptown Houston, Texas
A series of Chick-fil-A trucks at the Airport West Distribution Center
Chick-fil-A at Holcombe and Buffalo Speedway, Houston, Texas
Chick-fil-A headquarters in College Park, Georgia

Chick-fil-A (referring to "fillet") is an American fast food restaurant chain headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of College Park, Georgia, United States, specializing in chicken entrées. Long associated with the Southern United States, where it has been a cultural icon, the chain has expanded. As of April 2012, Chick-fil-A has 1,614 restaurants in 39 states and the District of Columbia, and is focusing future growth in the American Midwest, the Philippines, Mexico and Southern California. The corporate culture is heavily influenced by its founder's Christian beliefs; unlike the vast majority of fast food franchises, Chick-fil-A is closed for business on Sunday.

History

The chain grew from the Dwarf Grill (later the Dwarf House, a name still used by the chain), a restaurant opened by S. Truett Cathy, who is still the company's chairman, in the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Hapeville in 1946. This restaurant is near the now-demolished Ford plant, where some workers ate between shifts.

In 1961, after 15 years in the fast food business, Cathy found a pressure-fryer that could cook the chicken sandwich in the same amount of time it took to cook a fast-food hamburger. Following this discovery, he registered the name Chick-fil-A, Inc. The company's current trademarked 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.

The first Chick-fil-A opened in 1967 in the food court of the Greenbriar Mall, in a suburb of Atlanta. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the chain continued to grow by opening many new franchises in the privatized space of suburban malls' food courts. The first freestanding franchise opened in 1986. The company subsequently focused more on such franchises rather than food courts, and has expanded from its original geographic base, although most new restaurants are located in Southern suburban areas. As of 2012, the chain has approximately 1000 stand-alone locations. It also has 32 drive-through-only locations. Chick-fil-A also can be found at universities, hospitals, and airports through licensing agreements.

Since 1994, the Atlanta-based company has been the title sponsor of the Peach Bowl, an annual college football bowl game played in Atlanta. Beginning in the 2006 season, the Peach Bowl became the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Chick-fil-A also is a key sponsor of the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 conferences of college athletics.

Business model

Chick-fil-A uses a model significantly different from other restaurant franchises, notably in retaining ownership of each restaurant. Chick-fil-A selects the restaurant location, builds it, and pays the rent, while retaining ownership. Whereas franchisees from competing chains need about $2 million to operate a franchise, Chick-fil-A franchisees need only a $5,000 initial investment to become an operator. The company gets 10,000-25,000 applications from potential franchise operators for 60-70 slots they open each year. Chick-fil-A gets a larger share of revenue from its franchises than other chains, but the formula works well for operators — franchisees make an average of $190,000 per year. In 2010 Chick-fil-A took the industry lead in average sales per restaurant, making an average of $2.7 million per restaurant in 2010 (McDonald's was second with $2.4 million per restaurant).

Advertising

"Eat mor chikin" is the chain's most prominent advertising slogan, created by the The Richards Group in 1995. The slogan is often seen in advertisements, featuring cows that are often seen wearing (or holding) signs that read: "Eat mor chikin" in all capital letters. According to Chick-fil-A's advertising strategies, the cows have united in an effort to reform American food, in an effort to reduce the amount of beef that is eaten. They wish the American public to refrain from eating beef burgers, common at Chick-fil-A's competitors, such as McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's, and instead focus on eating chicken. The ad campaign was temporarily halted during a mad cow disease scare on January 1, 2004 so as not to make the chain seem insensitive or appear to be taking advantage of the scare to increase its sales. Two months later, the cows were put up again. The cows replaced the chain's old mascot, Doodles, an anthropomorphized chicken who still appears as the C on the logo.

Chick-fil-A vigorously protects its intellectual property, sending cease and desist letters to those they think have infringed on their trademarks. The corporation has successfully protested at least 30 instances of the use of an "eat more" phrase, saying that the use would cause confusion of the public, dilute the distinctiveness of their intellectual property, and diminish its value. A 2011 letter to Vermont artist Bo Muller-Moore who screen prints t-shirts reading: "Eat More Kale" demanded that he cease printing the shirts and turn over his website. The incident has drawn criticism from Vermont governor Peter Shumlin and has created backlash against Chick-fil-A's "corporate bullying."

Sponsored events

Distribution of Chick-fil-a stores in the U.S. by county.
Chick-fil-A Classic
The Chick-fil-A Classic is a high school basketball tournament held in Columbia, South Carolina. The tournament is in its eighth year of operation and features nationally ranked players and teams. 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.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Formerly known as the Peach Bowl, the Chick-fil-A Bowl is a college football bowl game played each year in Atlanta, Georgia between teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference.
Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
The Chick-fil-A College Kickoff is an annual early-season college football game played at the Georgia Dome 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.
Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America
The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is an annual charity motorcycle tour to raise money for, among other charities, the Victory Junction Gang Camp 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, Georgia, in 1946 and developed the pressure-cooked chicken breast sandwich there. At the original Chick-fil-A Dwarf Grill, in addition to the full-size entrances, there is also an extra small-sized front door. 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.

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 Morrow, Georgia. The second location opened in 2003 in McDonough, Georgia, and a third location opened in 2006 in Griffin, Georgia. 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.

Corporate culture

S. Truett Cathy is a devout Southern Baptist; his religious beliefs have a major impact on the company. The company's official statement of corporate purpose says that the business exists "To glorify God 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." Chick-fil-A has also included interactive CDs designed by Focus on the Family in some children's meals.

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 closed on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving and Christmas. 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."

In an interview with ABC News's Nightline, Truett's son Dan Cathy told reporter Vicki Mabrey that another reason why the company is closed on Sundays, was because "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."

Controversy regarding same-sex marriage stance

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Main article: 2012 Chick-fil-A gay-marriage freedom of speech controversy

In January 2011, the media reported that Chick-fil-A was co-sponsoring a marriage conference along with the Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI), an organization that has opposed LGBT rights legislation in California and Pennsylvania. Chick-fil-A explained the PFI retreat support, stating "one of our independent Restaurant Operators in Pennsylvania was asked to provide sandwiches to two Art of Marriage video seminars." The WinShape Foundation also stated it would not allow same-sex couples to participate in its marriage retreats. Chick-fil-A has donated millions to the WinShape Foundation, which then gave millions to groups including Focus on the Family and Eagle Forum that are politically active in opposing same-sex marriage and other gay rights issues.

In response, students at several colleges and universities formed grassroots efforts to ban or remove the company's restaurants from their campuses. On 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. On February 28, 2012, the Northeastern University student Senate passed a resolution to cancel plans for a Chick-fil-A franchise on campus, stating that "the student body does not support bringing CFA to campus," and "Student concerns reflected CFA's history of donating to anti-gay organizations." The vote was 31 to 5, with 8 abstaining. The restaurant chain was finalizing a contract to bring it to NU when students protested.

After Chick-fil-A COO Dan Cathy made several public statements opposing same-sex marriage.

On July 2, 2012, the LGBT watchdog group Equality Matters published a report with details of donations given by Chick-fil-A to organizations that are opposed to same-sex marriage, such as the Marriage & Family Foundation and the Family Research Council. Also, on July 2, Biblical Recorder published an interview with Dan Cathy, who was asked about opposition to his company's "support of the traditional family." He replied: "Well, guilty as charged." Cathy continued:

"We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that. ... We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized. "We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

In the wake of this interview, Thomas Menino, the Mayor of Boston, stated that he would not allow the company to open franchises in the city "unless they open up their policies.” Menino subsequently wrote a letter to Dan Cathy, citing Cathy's earlier statement on The Ken Coleman Show and responding: "We are indeed full of pride for our support of same sex marriage and our work to expand freedom for all people." In Chicago alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno announced his determination to block Chick-fil-A's bid to build a second store in the city: "They'd have to do a complete 180," Moreno said in outlining conditions under which he would retract the block. "They'd have to work with LGBT groups in terms of hiring, and there would have to be a public apology from ." Moreno received backing from Chicago's Mayor, Rahm Emanuel: "Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values," Emanuel said in a statement. "They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents. This would be a bad investment, since it would be empty." San Francisco soon followed suit on July 26 when mayor Edwin M. Lee tweeted, "Very disappointed #ChickFilA doesn't share San Francisco's values & strong commitment to equality for everyone." Lee followed that tweet with "Closest #ChickFilA to San Francisco is 40 miles away & I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer."

The proposed bans in Boston and Chicago drew criticism from liberal pundits, legal experts and the American Civil Liberties Union. Kevin Drum of Mother Jones magazine said "here's really no excuse for Emanuel's and Menino's actions... you don't hand out business licenses based on whether you agree with the political views of the executives. Not in America, anyway." UCLA law professor and blogger Eugene Volokh observed, "enying a private business permits because of such speech by its owner is a blatant First Amendment violation." Echoing those views were Glenn Greenwald of Salon, professor John Turley of George Washington University, and Adam Schwartz, a senior attorney with the ACLU.

The Chick-Fil-A in Port Charlotte, Florida on Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day

In response to the July 2 interview, the Jim Henson Company, which had entered its Pajanimals in a kids' meal toy licensing arrangement in 2011, said that it would cease its business relationship with Chick-fil-A, and donate payment for the brand to Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Citing safety concerns, Chick-fil-A stopped distributing the toys. A spokeswoman stated the decision had been made July 19 and was unrelated to the controversy.

In response to criticism of the Cathy family's support for "traditional marriage," Mike Huckabee conceived of and recruited support for what he termed "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," a counter-protest with the goal of showing support for the franchise. Over 630,000 people responded on the Facebook page that Huckabee created for the event. The event itself took place on August 1, 2012, with many stores reporting historic sales.

Lawsuit over cancer risk

In 2006 a lawsuit was brought by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine against McDonald's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, Chili's, T.G.I. Friday's, Burger King and Chick-fil-A. The organization asserted that cooking certain meats, including chicken, at high temperatures causes the meat to contain the chemical PhIP, a compound which had caused cancer in lab rats and mice. A 2009 ruling for the defendants was followed by an August 2010 appeal decided in favor of the plaintiffs. The matter has not been legally resolved and is still before the courts of California.

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