I actually worked at a Church’s Fried Chicken in my neighborhood (N. VA) when I was a teenager in the early eighties. That location went out of business long ago, but I suspect it was because of supply-chain difficulties (everything had to come from far-of San Antonio) which were the bane of its existence back in the day.
Pork products were not big on the menu in my day, but who knows how the menu may have expanded. It is quite possible that this “halal” problem had little to do with this particular franchisee’s failure.
However, you can bet your booty that one only has to scream “shariah-run!” and business will flee.
I rather doubt there are enough immigrant muslims and black muslims to keep a fast-food chain going.
Fast food breakfast restaurants located in airports do a tone of business during brakfast hours and has the highest profit margins. Can you imagine breakfast without any pork products? No one would eat there.
It sounds a little like they're shaking them down for a settlement. A great number of us, myself included, won't knowingly shop at an islamic business and you can be sure the financing company knows it. If they make a big enough deal of it in this lawsuit it will probably drive Church's out of business.