After Chick-fil-A, one the US’s largest chicken burger franchises, came under pressure to close its first UK site in Reading last October, the news is in that the firm has closed its only Scottish site.
The furore kicked off in the UK when the LGBTQ+ community found out that the company does not support same-sex marriage because it opposes its Christian values, and it had donated to anti-LGBTQ+ groups.
The American chicken chain quietly opened the Scottish site in a hotel in Aviemore, in the Scottish Highlands, in mid-October, shortly after the Reading launch.
However, due to the company's problematic history, Scott Cuthbertson, an LGBTQ activist, launched a petition calling for its closure, which quickly accrued 1,000 signatures.
Additionally, Patrick Harvie, the first out bisexual member of Scottish Parliament, called on a boycott of the restaurant among his fellow politicians, who often stay at the luxury Macdonald Aviemore Resort.
A spokesperson for the Macdonald Highland Resort has said that the new offer was initially successfil, 'Chick-fil-A has already proved very popular with our guests and we are happy to be able to provide this quality food experience as an option.'
The company only signed a six month lease on the Reading site, and confirmed that it would not be renewing it.
Over the last few years, Chick-fil-A said it had got to know the UK fans through its four pop-up locations - including in Edinburgh and London - and that it had been a great way to learn more about the foodie culture here and to test consumer interest in the brand.
