Chick-fil-A named America’s favourite restaurant chain for fourth year running
27 Jun 2019
2m
Chick-fil-A, known for its delicious chicken sandwiches, excellent customer service and disturbing ties to anti-LGBTQ groups, has been named America’s favorite restaurant for the fourth year in a row.
The annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI), which is based on data from 23,000 US diners, once again listed Chick-fil-A as number one. On a scale of 0-100, the chain scored an 86, slipping just 1% from 2018. The next ranking competitor was Panera with 81, followed by a four-way tie between Arby’s, Chipotle, Pizza Hut and Papa John’s.
At the bottom of the list, McDonalds scored an ASCI score of 69, meaning consumers were definitely not lovin’ it. Meanwhile, Jack In The Box and Taco Bell scored 75, tying for second worst. But on the upside, Taco Bell was named “Restaurant of the Year” by Explosive Diarrhea Magazine for the tenth year in a row. God taketh, God giveth!
Credit: Chick-fil-A
According to National’s Restaurant News, Chick-fil-A generated more than $10.4 billion in sales in 2018, jumping over Taco Bell and Subway to snag the #3 spot for the industry. That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment, considering the Georgia-based fast food chain is only open six days a week. The restaurant’s operations reflect the values of the founder, whose biography states he “built his life and business based on hard work, humility and biblical principles.”
However, these “biblical principles” have also sparked controversy in 2012. Chick-fil-A was scrutinized for giving money to The WinShape Foundation, which itself contributed money to several anti-LGTBQ charities like the Marriage & Family Foundation, the Georgia Family Council, and Exodus International. The latter group promoted the widely denounced and funny-if-it-wasn’t-sad practice of “gay conversion therapy.” In 2013, Exodus apologized and shut down.
Seven years later, the scandal continues to haunt Chick-fil-A, as two major airports – Buffalo International Airport in New York and San Antonio International Airport in Texas – dropped the chain over its perceived attitude toward the LGBTQ community. Following that news, Chick-fil-A released a statement similar to their statements in 2012, declaring they have no political or social agenda:
“Recent coverage about Chick-fil-A continues to drive an inaccurate narrative about our brand. We do not have a political or social agenda or discriminate against any group. More than 145,000 people from different backgrounds and beliefs represent the Chick-fil-A brand. We embrace all people, regardless of religion, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
This article originally appeared on vt.co