Chick fil A Franchise Chief May Be Clucking Up The Wrong Tree

(Courtest of ASurroca on Flickr.)

Things just got a little weirder in our nation’s fast food franchise wars, as the president of Chick-fil-A publicly voiced opposition to gay marriage this week. And, I do mean publicly….

In a recent interview with Baptist Press, Dan Cathy said that the company was,”guilty as charged in supporting the biblical definition of the family unit.” Cathy went on to say that, “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives.”

Of course, Cathy is backtracking a bit now, according to this story in the LA Times.

Who’s Next?

What other franchise CEO’s are going to jump into this fray? (My prediction; none.)

Mixing religion and franchising has always scared the bejesus out of me, and the Chick-fil-A fiasco is a perfect example why.

I remember a fellow franchise professional telling me that he attended a certain franchise company’s convention a few years back that included a “prayer breakfast.” I’m thrilled that I wasn’t in attendance, because I would have, A. Walked out or B. Stood up and said something that I may have regretted. I don’t do “prayer breakfasts.”

Courage

Chick-fil-A’s president sure has a lot of courage. But, he’s a wealthy guy, and lots of wealthy guys use their money as a shield….they figure that they can’t really be hurt by stuff like this-because they’re loaded. I predict that Chick-fil-A’s revenues are going to suffer because of what he said.

It’s Not About Gay Marriage

For me, it’s about one more person trying to shove their “Christian Values” down my throat.

I’ve had it. I’m sick of business owners and politicians throwing their religious beliefs into the mix. It’s totally unnecessary, and it kind of creeps me out. There is no reason for it. Your religious beliefs…yes, Mr. Cathy, I’m talking to you, are your business. I don’t want to know anything about what you do on Sundays. As long as it doesn’t affect or endanger me or my friends and family…do what you feel you must.

I find lots of examples of people doing this on Twitter. Some of them even add their religious beliefs on their Twitter handles. (In which case, I immediately unfollow them.) It’s a major turnoff for me.

Please follow me @FranchiseKing

And, by the way, My feelings on gay marriage have nothing to do with my reason for writing this post. (Please don’t try to guess what they are, because you have a 50% chance of being wrong.)

No More Chick-fil-A For Me

I probably dine at a Chick-fil-A 3-4 times a year. Not anymore, though. My daughter, (The Franchise Princess) loves the place. Now that’s she’s driving, she’s more than welcome to spend her own money there.

I did offer to take her there for lunch this Sunday, though.

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Filed Under: Franchise News, politics

About The Franchise King®

My name is Joel Libava, and I'm the author of Become a Franchise Owner! In addition, I'm a franchise ownership advisor. I teach people how to properly choose, research, and buy franchises.

http://twitter.com/Rieva Rieva

nope, I”m boycotting.
- http://thefranchiseking.com/about-joel-libava-the-franchise-king The Franchise King
  
  Cool. That’s now 2.
  
  JL
- Sophia
  
  Me too! For me, the issue goes deeper than what the president said. Chik-Fil-A corporate profits support the Family Research Council (FRC). The FRC spends money lobbying in my view, what is discriminatory (i.e. displaying prejudice)– They believe in the traditional family unit and they lobby hard in order to maintain that status quo. There are discrimination practices in business, but as a general whole business is not supposed to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation. I don’t see how lobbying for such discrimination with corporate profit is appropriate either.
  
  Reading the King’s most recent blog: http://thefranchiseking.com/the-chick-fil-a-franchise-model-is-for-the-birds the company as a franchise itself is extremely disappointing, and I agree, I’d hardly call it a franchise! So now I have yet another reason to boycott.
JKGuinn

So, a Biblically based business decides to stick to it’s biblical principles and somehow that’s cramming it down your throat? If people don’t agree with it, they have the right to eat anywhere else they want. Also, I’m curious as to why this obvious Op/Ed piece is even in a franchising column.
- http://thefranchiseking.com/about-joel-libava-the-franchise-king The Franchise King
  
  Thanks for stopping by to comment. A “Biblically based” business should sell bibles. My post is about mixing a franchise business with religion
  It’s short sighted- and a huge turn off for me
  Joel Libava
  - GeoOT
    
    Apparently the corporation has come around to your view Joel. See: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b6864e44-02c2-11e2-9e53-00144feabdc0.html#axzz271KnnCl1
    There is some coverage elsewhere that seems to be either less complete or more editorial.
    - http://thefranchiseking.com/about-joel-libava-the-franchise-king The Franchise King
      
      Interesting. I’ll go check it out now.
      
      Thanks for the TIP.
      
      JL
- GraciesDaddy
  
  Is it “Biblically based” to spend TWO MILLION DOLLARS to campaign against OTHER people’s rights? That’s what CFA did through there “Social Awareness” organization, the Ruth Institute, spent fighting marriage equality. This topic is in a franchising column because I would venture, by the end of the quarter, the franchise value is going to be about 30% of what it is today. In other words, Investors: DON’T BUY ONE!
http://profiles.google.com/exseedmarketing Steve Dale

Seriously…. Boycotting a guy with profound religious beliefs who doesn’t open on Sundays? Really? Do you think he cares? Should I “Boycott” Disney for their support of the gay agenda? Or should I “Boycott” Google for their support of Obama? As a conservative I’m attacked every hour of every day by the media, academia, and hollywood. I don’t run around saying i’m going to “boycott” every time i’m insulted. I don’t punish people for their believes, I try a learn and expand my views.
- http://thefranchiseking.com/about-joel-libava-the-franchise-king The Franchise King
  
  Thanks for reading the post, Steve.
  
  I’m boycotting chick fil A because they are mixing religion with business.
  
  I frequent businesses that provide a service and/or a product that I want and maybe even need.
  
  Businesses that are dumb enough to lay their religious beliefs on me-as part of their business, don’t get my money.
  
  And, I did learn something.
  
  I didn’t really know that much about chick fil A until they got this free PR.
  
  Now I know more.
  
  JL
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WRL

Joel, by your own admission you purchased from CF in the past and didn’t seem to have a problem then. If you felt the company was mixing religion with the chicken sandwich you bought you probably wouldn’t have gone back as you did. If an American expresses his personal views and happens to be the head of a company, some that don’t agree with that view may want to boycott an otherwise enjoyable business transaction. That’s understandable as we are all biased to a certain degree. But based on the events of August 1st where people are wrapped around the store to support Chic-fil-a, I would say that hundreds of thousands of Americans in this country still believe in the 1st amendment and Christian values.
- http://thefranchiseking.com/about-joel-libava-the-franchise-king The Franchise King
  
  I always kind of knew that they were closed on Sundays because of their religious views, but now it’s been thrown in my face. (Their views–their religion)
  
  Business and religion don’t mix very well, and now I’ve made my choice.
  
  Just like Cathy made his.
  
  They WILL end up having less revenue now.
  
  JL
  - Laurence
    
    Maybe not. I will gladly eat yummy chikin an extra 4 times a year to offset your absence ..
  - Scott
    
    Did Mr. Cathy throw it in your face? Or did the media and organizations who support LBGT causes throw it in your face?
    
    I don’t think Mr. Cathy did anything more than give an interview on a Baptist radio station.
    
    The reason you’ve heard about it is the MSM and LBGT organizations primarily.
    
    If you’re angry Mr. Cathy’s views are out of a religious context and in the public square, I think your anger is misplaced.
    
    Mr. Cathy didn’t put it front and center. Others did.
- Amy
  
  Chick-fil-a uses its profits to promote organizations that I find morally repugnant. So I won’t be eating there anymore, since I don’t want my purchases to increase that profit pool.
  
  How is that un-American? How is that not believing in the First Amendment? I thought it was *quintessentially* American to express one’s views and make one’s own legal and moral choices within the laws of our land. I thought I had just as much right as Mr. Cathy to spend *my* money as *I* see fit.
  
  How is it anti-1st Amendment to exercise my 1st amendment rights?
mr truth

chick -fil -a will make more money in the future,watch and see! dan cathy is right on!
- http://thefranchiseking.com/about-joel-libava-the-franchise-king The Franchise King
  
  Long-term, I think that Chick fil A’s revenue will drop.
  
  We shall see.
  
  Thanks for reading the post.
  
  JL
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whenpigsfly

I have yet to see any one show that chic fil a is selling anything but chicken. No one has whined that they are selling bibles or preaching anything close to religion at any of their establishments. Rock on chic fil a. Keep up the good work GOD BLESS
- http://becomeafranchiseowner.biz The Franchise King®
  
  But, internally, they ARE selling more than chicken. And, it borderlines on discrimination of the religious variety. JL
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matthew m

Joel,

The linchpin of your article is that “business and religion don’t mix well”. What an incredibly foolish statement. One who is a devoted Christian, Jew, or Muslim (in addition to many other smaller religions) cannot be expected to forget or hide the values that are established because of their spiritual beliefs. A dedicated follower of a religion will operate the business he/she owns the same way he/she operates his/her own life because they believe that is the best way. How can you expect a business owner to take religion out the business when it runs so deeply, defining who they are?

Maybe you just don’t understand why people hold religious beliefs. Your statement, “do what you feel you must”, speaks directly to this. I’m certain that most don’t hold religious beliefs because they feel like they have to but it’s because of what they want to do. Wanting to live a certain way that might be different than most because of your religious beliefs is why it is impossible for a devout person to remove it from all aspects of his/her life, including the business they run.

You mentioned in the comments that you don’t know much about Chickfila. That’s pretty interesting since your career is based around franchising. It’s time for you to do your homework.
- http://thefranchiseking.com/about-joel-libava-the-franchise-king The Franchise King
  
  Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Matthew.
  
  Lots of people are religious. It’s just that most of them don’t broadcast it to their customers and/or clients.
  
  It needs to remain separate.
  
  Believe it or not, there are people who get turned off by people who try to shove their beliefs down others throats.
  
  JL
  - Scott
    
    In all honesty, how did Mr. Cathy “shove his beliefs down your throat”.
    
    He gave an interview to a Baptist radio show. The media took is and spun it into places where there was an audience who didn’t tune in to hear religious related dialog.
    
    It seems Mr. Cathy discussed his religious views in a religious forum with an audience who tuned in to listen.
    
    Did Mr. Cathy broadcast his views to customers or clients? It was to a religious radio talk show.
    
    Looking at what actually happened, it seems The Franchise King is the one who is combining Mr. Cathy’s religious views to his business.
    
    He is a business man, who is also religious. There is no evidence his organization discriminates in any way. He talks about personal views in a separate forum.
    
    Are you saying because he’s a business man…that means he can’t talk in a religious forum about religious views?
    - http://thefranchiseking.com/about-joel-libava-the-franchise-king The Franchise King
      
      “The Cathy family has always been public about its faith. Since Dan Cathy’s father, Truett, opened the first Chick-fil-A in 1967, the restaurants have been closed on Sundays. The company refused to reconsider the policy during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, sacrificing even more profit.” From The Blaze.com
      Public.
      
      This company wears it’s religious views on it’s sleeves.
      
      That’s their choice..
      
      I’ve made mine.
      
      No money to them from me when i’m in the mood for a chicken sandwich.