Protest to target UK's first Chick-fil-A
LGBT+ charity Reading Pride is to hold a peaceful demonstration outside the US fried chicken chain's Reading site, which opened last week, on 19 October.
Chick-fil-A has faced a boycott in North America after its CEO made comments opposing same-sex marriage in 2012.
It has also been criticised for past donations made to organisations with a reported anti-LGBT+ stance, but the restaurant group says it now focuses its charitable efforts on 'youth, education and leadership' programmes.
A spokesperson for the chicken chain, which was founded in 1967 and operates over 2,000 US restaurants, told BigHospitality the company "has no social or political agenda".
In a Facebook event calling to #GetTheChickOut, Reading Pride wrote: “The aim is to enlighten potential patrons to the Chick-fil-A chain and their anti LGBT+ stance.
“Ultimately we want to see the chain removed from Reading and ultimately the UK.”
A spokesperson for Chick-fil-A told BigHospitality: “We hope our guests in the UK will see that Chick-fil-A is a restaurant company focused on serving great food and hospitality...we are represented by more than 145,000 people from different backgrounds and beliefs, and we welcome everyone.”
Chick-fil-A opened its first international site under franchise in Toronto, Canada in September. The launch was also met with protests from LGBT+ and animal-rights activists.
