A US fast food chain is making a bid to crack the UK market for a second time after political controversy marred its first attempt.
Chick-fil-A – which has more than 3,000 restaurants across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico – confirmed this week that it will open its first permanent restaurant in Leeds this autumn.
The popular fried chicken chain said the new permanent branch is among the five restaurants it hopes to open across the UK over the next two years.
The new planned sites come after Chick-fil-A failed to previously establish itself in the UK following a backlash over its owners’ stance on LGBT+ rights.
Chick-fil-A said it has never donated money directly to anti-LGBT causes.
Eight days after opening in October 2019, it was announced that what was initially the company’s first UK outlet, in Reading, was set to close.
It emerged that both chief executive Dan Cathy and his late father Samuel, who founded the chain in 1946, have publicly made donations towards anti-LGBT+ groups.
LGBT+ people began a series of boycotts, kiss-ins and same-sex marriages outside the restaurants across the US after Mr Cathy Jr publicly opposed same-sex marriage in 2012, saying: "We're 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."
Meanwhile, Samuel Cathy used Chick-fil-A profits to fund charities including Exodus International, a group which promoted gay and transgender conversion therapy.
His son has also been accused of providing $1.9m (£1.4m) to the charity Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which opposes same-sex relationships.
After the firm announced its plans for the Reading branch, the decision was condemned by LGBT+ rights groups across the UK, with protests and boycotts of the restaurant planned.
The Oracle shopping centre, where the Reading site opened, later announced that it would not extend Chick-fil-A's initial six-month lease.
Chick-fil-A said the six-month lease agreement for the Reading site was always supposed to be a fixed-period pop-up.
At the time, the restaurant denied the closure related in any way to Mr Cathy's views on LGBT+ rights or charity donations.
And now, six years later, Chick-fil-A is making another attempt to break into the UK market.
The company is investing $100m (£74m) over the next decade into its expansion in this country.
It said the new Leeds branch will be led by experienced owner-operator Mike Hoy, who is from London.
It comes after two branches opened in Northern Ireland earlier this year.
The firm also announced plans to launch its first restaurant in Singapore later in 2025.
Andrew T Cathy, chief executive officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc, said: “Expanding in both Europe and Asia is a meaningful milestone for Chick-fil-A. The investments we’re making in the UK and Singapore not only present opportunities for our business, but are also a chance for us to bring what makes Chick-fil-A special to new places – great food and remarkable hospitality, our unique franchise model and the positive impact we have in communities.”
Anita Costello, chief international officer for Chick-fil-A, Inc, said: “Wherever we do business, our unique franchise model and the dedication of our local Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators who are deeply involved in their restaurants every day are the keys to our success.
“In Europe and in Asia, our first local Owner-Operators are from Great Britain and Singapore and bring a deep understanding of the communities they serve. Not only will they be hiring great local talent to deliver an authentic Chick-fil-A experience at their restaurants, but they’ll also be making an impact by building meaningful connections as they invest in the needs of the neighbourhoods where they’ll be serving guests.”
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