Chick-fil-A set to open first UK restaurant years after anti-LGBT+ controversy
US restaurant chain launches second attempt to break into UK
- US fast food chain Chick-fil-A is set to open its first permanent restaurant in Leeds this autumn, marking a renewed attempt to establish itself in the UK market.
- This expansion follows a previous failed attempt in 2019, when a pop-up in Reading closed amidst controversy over the company owners' past donations to anti-LGBT+ groups.
- Chick-fil-A plans to open five restaurants across the UK over the next two years, investing $100m over the next decade into its British expansion.
- The company's chief executive, Andrew T Cathy, highlighted the expansion as a significant milestone, aiming to bring Chick-fil-A's food, hospitality, and community impact to new places.
- Two Chick-fil-A branches have already opened in Northern Ireland earlier this year, preceding the new permanent site in Leeds.