Chick-fil-A may have faced an enormous firestorm of criticism in 2012, but it hasn't slowed down their growth. The chain's president drew both intense support and heated criticism after his comments on marriage spread like wildfire. Despite the ups and downs of the controversy, The Atlanta Journal-Constituion shared on Jan. 29 that the chain seems to be stronger than ever.
The chicken chain ended 2012 with sales up 14 percent from the prior year. In addition, they opened 96 new locations in the last year, four more than the previous year. Chick-fil-A is privately owned, so they don't have to make details and figures available to the public, but they have been sharing some interesting tidbits. It's clear that despite last year's controversy, the chain is still popular and growing.
CNN shares that the groups Chick-fil-A supports has shifted significantly since 2011. The advocacy group Campus Pride shared that the chicken chain no longer lists “the most divisive, anti-LGBT group” as ones that receive their financial support. The chain gave nearly $6 million in grant funding in 2011, and their focus was on education, local communities, youth and marriage enrichment. While their support still goes to some same-sex marriage opponents, they are groups that are said to be less “hard-nosed” in their agenda than others that used to receive the chain's funds.
Where do you stand on Chick-fil-A after last year's controversy? Are you glad to see they seem to be thriving?
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