Founder of anti-gay Chick-fil-A restaurant chain dies
The founder of the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain – which donates money to anti-gay groups – has died.
S Truett Cathy, who started the business with an Atlanta chicken shop in 1967, died in his home yesterday, aged 93.
Cathy was responsible for the chain’s emphasis on Biblical values, starting the tradition of its restaurants refusing to open on Sunday.
In 2012 it emerged that the fried chicken company had donated millions of dollars to anti-gay groups including the Family Research Council, ‘gay cure’ group Exodus International and Focus on the Family.
The business has since faced several boycotts since the anti-gay donations came to light, with some stores blocked or removed.
S Truett Cathy was estimated to have amassed a $6 billion fortune through the chain, gaining a place on the Forbes rich list.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, three children, 19 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Dan Cathy admitted earlier this year: “The bottom line is we have a responsibility here to keep the whole of the organization in mind and it has to take precedence over the personal expression and opinion on social issues.
“Consumers want to do business with brands that they can interface with, that they can relate with, and it’s probably very wise from our standpoint to make sure that we present our brand in a compelling way that the consumer can relate to.”
