Posted on 04/08/2014 6:13:42 AM PDT by GIdget2004
Chick-fil-A is finally crossing the road.
The iconic chicken chain, as well-known for its conservative heritage as its savory eats, is recalibrating its moral and culinary compass. It wants to go from old school to almost cool. It wants to evolve from a place where gays once picketed to a place where they'll feel comfortable going to eat. It wants to broaden the brand as it expands nationally and plows into the Millennial-driven urban arena. Above all: it wants to be a serious player on fast-food's biggest stage.
USA TODAY was exclusively invited inside to visit the company's sprawling, wooded campus, get the first look at its new test kitchen, tour its store-of-the-future development facility and interview Chick-fil-A's controversial CEO Dan Cathy. Cathy, whose comments condemning gay marriage in 2012 set off store picketing and a social media firestorm, has now fully backed away from such public pronouncements that mix personal opinion on social issues with corporate policy.
"All of us become more wise as time goes by," he says, apologetically, in a rare, one-hour sit-down interview. "We sincerely care about all people."
(snip)
Chick-fil-A's socially conservative agenda, which formally led the company to donate millions to charitable groups opposed to gay marriage, has been tempered. This, just as the company aims to quickly expand into Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Southern hospitality must give way to urban reality as the 1,800 store chain moves to compete with big city success stories like McDonald's, Panera Bread and Chipotle.
If nothing else, Cathy has listened. In 2012, Cathy not only heard from some unhappy consumers about his comments against gay marriage, but also from some store operators and employees. Now, he says, "I'm going to leave it to politicians and others to discuss social issues."
(Excerpt) Read more at kens5.com ...
I don’t believe he apologized. I think it’s more likely that a journalist is taking liberties with the truth.
Interesting. They just had a really good couple of years. Why make this statement? Do they believe the media, or their own financials? Sounds like they believe the media.
They said back in july 2012 that they were leaving social issues.
It’s terrible journalism to pretend this development is new today.
it’s been their stand on the issues that have put them where they are today.
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I tend to disagree with that.
Their food and especially their customer service are head and shoulders above every other fast food outlet.
The stores are clean and the employees, to a person, pleasant and personable.
The moral underpinnings may inform the behavior of those who work there, bit it is the quality and service that have gotten them to where they are.
Maybe it’s like in San Francisco where naked people have to carry a towel to sit on in restaurants. I think they makes those people comfortable. Maybe a glory hole will make them feel more at home.
This is typical of the Southern Baptist Convention and the seeker sensitive paradigm.
So capitalism and principle aren’t compatible?
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Capitalism is not a moral code. It is amoral. It is an economic system.
Capitalists, on the other hand, do have a moral code and can choose how they integrate the theory with their principles.
what Church?
what Church are you people talking about and what does it have to do with a fried chicken outfit?
Evidently not. Money talks.
Dittoes. But that doesn’t keep many FReepers from knee-jerking.
“He caved! He caved!”
I agree.
"All of us become more wise as time goes by," he says, apologetically, in a rare, one-hour sit-down interview. "We sincerely care about all people."
Where's the 'apology'???
He became more wise, and feels even more strongly that gay is wrong.
And he cares about all people, and wants gays to turn away from sin.
So where's the apology?
Yup, this is just like all those stories about the Pope.
Exactly. The 'journalist' made it up out of whole cloth.
Sure. Because pandering to less than 2% of the population that hate you to begin with will gain more business.
Just ask JC Penney.
That’s not an apology. Stop being lead by lying journalists.
It’s not a conservative value to care about all people?
It’s not a Christian value to care about all people?
I don’t think he caved. I’ll retract that statement if iut turns out he has.
He should not be ashamed of when he made those comments and sticking up for his beliefs. When he says he cares for all people, he is saying clearly, 'if Adam and Steve want to get a bite of Chik Fil-A after they comitted sin, then we welcome them with open arms, and we will even make sure their seat is extra clean for their tired bums.'
that to me is a sell-out and a cave.
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