Chick-fil-A's Bold Move: First International Expansion Sparks Controversy and Excitement!

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Chick-fil-A is planning to expand outside of North America for the first time by launching in the United Kingdom in 2025.

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The company also has plans to open restaurants in Europe and Asia by 2026 and five international locations by 2030.

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Each restaurant is expected to create approximately 80-120 new jobs.

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All chicken used in the UK restaurants will be sourced from the UK and Ireland, and the company will use 100% free-range eggs and welfare certification.

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Chick-fil-A's unique local owner-operator model will provide entrepreneurial opportunities for local business owners.

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The company previously faced protests from LGBTQ+ rights activists when it opened a temporary store in Reading, England, in 2019.

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Chick-fil-A was not allowed to extend its lease in the shopping mall where it operated its temporary store beyond a "six-month pilot period."

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The protests were sparked by the company's million-dollar donations to organizations seen as hostile to LGBTQ+ rights. 

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Chick-fil-A later altered its charitable donation approach to focus on education, homelessness, and hunger, while reassessing philanthropic partnerships annually.

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The logo change is specific to vehicles and does not affect Ford's corporate logo, unlike General Motors' controversial shift to lowercase letters in 2021. 

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