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Category Archives: Corporate Ethics

VICTORY: Chick-Fil-A Sales Up $500 Million as 96 New Locations Open

February 1, 2013 – 12:30 pm

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Chick-Fil-A Appreciation program! Your efforts help demonstrate to Americans of good will that pro-marriage business owners have a right to their beliefs and we have a right to support them!

Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s controversial comments on “biblical” marriage last summer and the uproar that followed didn’t dampen the Atlanta company’s annual sales.

The fast food giant, the nation’s second-largest chicken chain, ended 2012 with $4.6 billion in sales — up 14 percent from $4.1 billion a year earlier. The company also opened 96 news stores, four more than the year before.

The company does not have to publicize financial results because it is privately owned. It made revenue and store growth figures available at the request of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Supporters of Cathy’s views against gay marriage and his right to express them hailed the numbers as a victory, saying a summer boycott of the chain by backers of gay marriage failed. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Corporate Ethics, Events | Comments (8)

Victory For Christian Demoted Over Gay Marriage Comments

November 16, 2012 – 12:00 pm

The UK Christian Institute:

A judge has today ruled that bosses at a housing trust were wrong to demote a manager who said gay weddings in churches would be “an equality too far”.

Adrian Smith, a Christian, made the remark on his personal Facebook page, which was not visible to the general public, outside work time.

But bosses at Trafford Housing Trust, near Manchester, took action against Mr Smith saying the comments amounted to ‘gross misconduct’ and could bring the Trust into disrepute.

Mr Smith went to court with the financial backing of The Christian Institute’s Legal Defence Fund, which exists to protect the civil liberty of Christians.

It emerged in evidence that the Trust was worried it could lose a gay rights charter award unless it took action against Mr Smith.

But today the judge, Mr Justice Briggs, said the Trust had no right to demote Mr Smith over his Facebook comments, and ruled that the Trust had breached the terms of his contract.

Mr Smith says he is delighted to have won the case, but he is worried others may be in the firing line if the Government pushes ahead with its plans to redefine marriage.

He said: “I have won today. But what will tomorrow bring? I am fearful that, if marriage is redefined, there will be more cases like mine – and if the law of marriage changes people like me may not win in court.

“Does the Prime Minister want to create a society where people like me, people who believe in traditional marriage, are treated as outcasts? That may not be his intention, but that’s what will happen.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Corporate Ethics, Free Speech, MarriageADA, Religious Liberty, United Kingdom | Comments (11)

150 Medical Professionals Urge Minnesotans to VOTE YES On Amendment 1

November 2, 2012 – 4:00 pm

Another outpouring of support for the Marriage Protection Amendment in Minnesota:

Today, 150 medical professionals—the vast majority of whom are medical doctors—urged Minnesotans to VOTE YES on Amendment 1, the Marriage Protection Amendment because the state has a vital interest in supporting the best environment for the creation and care of children: a married mother and father. The medical professionals pointed to decades of social science research that shows children do best when reared by their two biological parents.

Their statement reads, “Children develop best when raised within marriage in a secure and recognized relationship to their mother and fathers. No child should ever be intentionally deprived of a mother or father without just cause. Public institutions best promote the welfare of children by affirming that marriage is a unique relationship of one man and one woman, and that marriage, as traditionally understood, is the optimal family setting for raising children.” -- Minnesota For Marriage

By NOM Staff | Posted in Corporate Ethics, Marriage, Minnesota, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)

In Washington State It's Marriage Traditionalists vs. Big Corporate Bucks

October 31, 2012 – 1:00 pm

Michael Haverluck of OneNewsNow explains the dynamics in Washington State's dueling campaigns to redesign/protect marriage:

Despite big bucks by major corporations being poured into the campaign for same-sex "marriage" in Washington State, polls continue to show that the gap for support for Democrat-backed Referendum 74 is dwindling ─ fast.

For the first time, support for Referendum 74 has dropped below 50 percent, according to the latest statewide Elway Poll.

We have gained 10 points since last month's poll and are within four points and closing in; the other side is under 50 percent for the first time," said Cedar Park Assembly of God senior pastor Rev. Joe Fuiten on his Facebook page. Pro-marriage advocates now trail 49 to 45 percent.

Fuiten's church, which recently donated $5,000 to the "No on Ref. 74" campaign, is one of the backers of a movement designed to preserve marriage's definition as the legal union between one man and one woman. So far, the pro-family campaign has received $2.1 million to fight same-sex marriage.

... But the big business climate in the Pacific Northwest is predominantly geared to fuel the homosexual agenda. Ramping up for the election, homosexual activists and corporate advocates have done all they can to garner and contribute financial support in the name of "marriage equality."

Some major corporate endorsers pushing Washington State to be the seventh state to allow same-sex marriage include: Microsoft, Google, Starbucks, Amazon, Nordstrom, Costco, REI, Nike, Alcoa, Vulcan, and Expedia, with the latter being one of the latest major big businesses to join the charge.

... Just what kind of money are we talking about? Referendum 74 has a $9.5 million campaign fund. Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos and his wife donated $2.5 million of this total. And more than $5 million has already been funneled to TV ads promoting the redefinition of marriage.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Corporate Ethics, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Washington | Comments (4)

Chick-fil-A Makes Record-Breaking Profits After Marriage Controversy!

October 30, 2012 – 9:00 am

A great reminder that our pro-marriage activism pays-off and sends the right message to corporations and brave pro-marriage individuals!

Thank you to everyone who answered our call to celebrate Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and to continue supporting Dan Cathy's business through the election:

Chick-fil-A has learned upholding traditional values is not just good for the soul; it’s also good for business. Since President Dan Cathy stirred up a firestorm of controversy and protests by daring to say in public that he supports traditional marriage, the fast food chain has enjoyed record sales and increased brand recognition.

A typical line on Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, August 1.

According to a report by USA Today, consumer use, visits, and ad awareness all rose measurably in the third quarter, despite widespread negative media coverage of Cathy’s remarks to the Baptist Press opposing same-sex “marriage.”

A Sandelman and Associates survey of more than 30,000 fast-food shoppers in markets where Chick-fil-A operates showed consumer use of the restaurant chain rose 2.2 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period in 2011. Their market share rose 0.6 percent. Awareness of their advertising rose 6.5 percent.

Jeff Davis, president of Sandelman and Associates, said the restaurant increased its regular customer base in 80 percent of its markets.

The upswing in business may have started August 1 with “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,” when consumers flocked to Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide to show their support for free speech and traditional marriage. The business enjoyed record sales that day, as people waited in long lines in restaurants and in drive-thrus to buy chicken from the chain. --LifeSiteNews

By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Corporate Ethics | Comments (11)

Nordstrom Issues Email in Support of Referendum 74 (Gay Marriage)

October 16, 2012 – 10:45 am

The AP:

Upscale department store chain Nordstrom Inc. has joined a number of Pacific Northwest businesses in expressing support for gay marriage.

The Seattle-based company sent out an email Thursday morning to its 56,000 employees, saying “is our belief that our gay and lesbian employees are entitled to the same rights and protections marriage provides under the law as all other employees.”

The letter was signed by Nordstrom executives and brothers Blake, Pete and Erik Nordstrom.

Referendum 74, to be voted on next month, asks voters to either approve or reject a law passed earlier this year allowing gay marriage in Washington state. That law is on hold pending the November vote.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Corporate Ethics, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Washington | Comments (16)

The Blue State Exodus (Towards Pro-Marriage States)

October 2, 2012 – 2:00 pm

General Mills recently claimed it endorsed same-sex marriage for economic reasons. Conn Carroll, senior editorial writer at the Examiner notes that Americans are fleeing blue states for states that have recently passed pro-marriage amendments:

Over the past ten years, millions of Americans have fled Democratic-leaning Blue states for Republican-leaning Red states, according to a new report from the Manhattan Institute.

The Great California Exodus: A Closer Look, focuses mainly on where and why California residents are fleeing the state, but using data from Census and the Internal Revenue Service, the study clearly documents that Americans are fleeing Democratic governance everywhere.

According to the data, California (+11 Democrat) lost 1.9 million citizens over the past ten years, while New York (+19 Democrat) lost 1.6 million, Illinois (+13 Democrat) 880,000, Michigan (+11 Democrat) lost 708,000, and New Jersey (+16 Democrat) 492,000. Meanwhile, Florida (+20 conservative) gained 1.3 million, Texas (+37 conservative) gained 781,000, North Carolina (+21 conservative) gained 714,000, Arizona (+29 conservative) gained 423,000, and Georgia (+25 conservative) gained 393,074.

By Thomas Peters | Posted in Corporate Ethics, Debating Marriage, Economics, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (12)

General Mills Shareholders Take Company to Task Over SSM Endorsement

September 25, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Star Tribune:

General Mills' stand against a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage got both criticism and accolades from shareholders at the company's annual meeting on Monday.

The Golden Valley-based packaged foods giant has been the most prominent Minnesota corporate voice opposing the November ballot amendment, which would recognize marriage only as a union between a man and a woman.

"I really had a heavy heart and it saddened me that General Mills took a political stance on the amendment," one shareholder said during the meeting's question-and-answer period. "Whether for or against, I don't think politically you should have taken a stand on that."

Another shareholder at the Minneapolis Children's Theater asked, "What was the reason for the company to get involved when perhaps over 50 percent of your customer base will be offended? I just don't understand the rationale."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Corporate Ethics, Economics, Marriage, Minnesota, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (23)

Media Attempts Cover Up of New Evidence: Being Pro-SSM Hurts Brands Across Political Lines

September 12, 2012 – 11:00 am

The real story here is that if a company endorses SSM its reputation will suffer. Forbes, for instance, is trying to bury that finding with the headline "Higher Democrat Perception for LGBT brands" when in actuality brand support for companies perceiving to be pro-SSM has dropped among BOTH Republicans and Democrats:

"While overall Buzz scores for the index of brands have decreased among both groups, the decline is more significant among consumers who identify themselves as Republican."

Take a look at this chart for "brands which have publicly supported LGBT" filtered by Democrat and Republican consumers from January 1st to September 5th of this year. The brands measured are "Amazon.com, American Apparel, Apple, General Mills Brands, Google, Home Depot, J.C. Penney, Levi’s, Macy’s, Microsoft, Nabisco, Nike and Starbucks."

No matter how media outlets try to spin it the chart could not be more clear -- coming out for gay marriage hurts a corporation's brand:

Graph from BrandIndex.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Corporate Ethics, Marriage, Media, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (18)

Gay Protest of Christian Bakery Owner Falls Flat

September 5, 2012 – 11:00 am

Colorado Media Trackers:

A cake shop protest organized by local gay groups over the weekend turned out to be a flop, with barely a baker’s dozen worth of individuals showing up to the event. The protest was organized after it was reported that the owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood refused to bake a “rainbow-layered masterpiece” celebrating a gay couple’s upcoming nuptials. The protest was anticipated to have a “massive” turnout.

After the gay couple described the cake that they wanted to order, bakery owner Jack Phillips told them that it was against his personal faith to supply cakes for gay weddings. He cited principles laid out in the Bible as his reasons for refusing their request. Phillips also made it clear that his store would never turn away anyone for being gay or lesbian and that he had no problem baking cakes for other events like birthday parties or graduations.

At the scheduled time of the protest on Saturday, approximately fourteen middle-aged men and women gathered across the street from the bakery with signs and balloons to protest the store. Standing with posters that read “Open Your Heart” and “Gays, Let Them Eat Cake,” the protest lasted for about an hour. Only five people had RSVP’ed to attend the protest on the event’s Facebook page.

... on one of the protest sites, a man named Thom Seehafter called for the use of a modified form of water-boarding to be used against the owners of the bakery.

“These business owners should have their heads held under water in a toilet,” he wrote.

Others resorted to name calling, referring to the owner as “ugly”, “anti-gay and anti-shower”, a “tool”, and claiming that he “looks like a pervert.” Some even called for “his human rights to be taken away.” Harassment techniques were also encouraged, with a plea sent around for everyone to “kick it up a notch” and to call the bakery to yell “shame on you” three times into the phone.

During the protest, a group of nearly fifty individuals, ranging from a two year old to a woman in her nineties, crowded around the store to buy cookies, cakes, and other pastries.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Colorado, Corporate Ethics, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (12)

The Starbucks Appreciation Day That Wasn't

August 8, 2012 – 1:00 pm

An Los Angeles Times blog notes that the planned counter-protest to the wildly successful Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day started-off weak:

Gay marriage activists had a vision: Tuesday would be their clarion call for consumers to reject Chick-fil-A and its president’s comments against same-sex unions, instead crowding into Starbucks and other more sympathetic companies.

Though its still early in the day, National Marriage Equality Day – originally known as National Starbucks Appreciation Day before organizers broadened the scope – seems to be getting a mostly mild start.

A Facebook profile created for the event by Equally Wed, a lesbian and gay wedding magazine, shows more than 34,000 people signed up to attend. But a photo page populated by submissions from supportive consumers had fewer than 20 images just before noon on the East Coast.

... Compare that with Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day last week, which was launched by former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. The event, inspired by comments from Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy backing the “biblical definition of the family unit," created traffic jams, out-the-door lines and record sales for the chicken chain. More than 670,000 people signed up on Facebook to attend.

A pro-SSM blogger in NYC had to admit by mid-day that the event wasn't going as planned, writing:

"...Either we've become too complacent about this issue or the event just wasn't organized and promoted with enough vehemence.

And now it seems like we may have lost this particular battle, especially since the haters cagily framed their actions as being pro-freedom-of-speech."

Today it appears the Starbucks Appreciation Day was a complete bust. This marks the second failed attempted to counter-protest the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day last week (the first attempt was the failed Chick-fil-A "kiss-in"):

"The Chick-fil-A controversy has left the gay rights movement with the proverbial egg on its face. First it was the ill-fated national “kiss-in.” Then it was Tuesday’s “Starbucks Appreciation Day” – or rather, “National Marriage Equality Day.” Activists were asked to change the name by Starbucks’ execs who were worried about getting filleted in the Chick-fil-A-related melee.

Both counter protests were met with an unexpectedly tepid response from gay rights supporters in contrast to last Wednesday’s record-setting avalanche at Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." -- William J. Kelley of the Washington Times

All of which is a good reason to continue keeping the pressure on Starbucks by helping us get to 50,000 pledges at Dump Starbucks!

By Thomas Peters | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Corporate Ethics, Dump Starbucks, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (73)

17 Representatives Send Letter Supporting Chick-fil-A

August 3, 2012 – 11:30 am

Congressman Alan Nunnelee:

Today, Congressman Alan Nunnelee (R-Miss) sent a letter to Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy congratulating him on the dignity with which his company has conducted itself in the face of a vicious smear campaign. The letter is cosigned by 16 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives.

“The criticism they have received has been appalling. Elected officials that are now threatening to block new Chick-fil-A restaurants in their cities are acting in a manner that is un-American. Demanding ideological conformity in order to be allowed to run your business is a dangerous precedent. It is like something that would happen in Soviet Russia. Clearly, a lot of people who like to fashion themselves as open minded and tolerant are actually the most intolerant folks around if you don’t agree with them,” Nunnelee said.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Congress, Corporate Ethics | Comments (2)

LSN: Chick-Fil-A Confirms Record-Smashing Sales on Appreciation Day

August 3, 2012 – 9:30 am

Jean McCarthy of LifeSiteNews:

As Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day wrapped up Wednesday evening, it took a long time for the dust and feathers to settle.

Almost 700,000 people signed up for Mike Huckabee’s event on Facebook, and from all reports they made good on their promise to stand up for free speech and religious freedom by eatin’ “mo chickin.’”

The event was a record setter, according to a statement from Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A’s executive vice president of marketing, who said: “While we don’t release exact sale numbers, we can confirm reports that it was a record-setting day.”

“We are very grateful and humbled by the incredible turnout of loyal Chick-fil-A customers on August 1 at Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country,” Robinson said. “We congratulate local Chick-fil-A Owner/Operators and their team members for striving to serve each and every customer with genuine hospitality.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Corporate Ethics, Economics | Comments (3)

Forbes Columnist: Chick-fil-A May Have Booked Over $100 Million Yesterday

August 3, 2012 – 8:30 am

Derek Broes of Forbes.com:

"...So, how was the chicken? Amazing! Now I know why people love this place. The store was run extremely well. Clean, polite and efficient. The staff brought water to those in line, they handed out umbrellas for protection from the sun and they served delicious food quickly. This has been replicated across the nation. This huge one day movement involving millions of supporters made their opinions heard and voted with their money and presence. It has been estimated that the chain will have booked almost $100 million or more just today.

When I returned home I turned on the news to see how this would be reported. NBC in Los Angeles chose to focus on the protesters. Not the ones supporting Chick-Fil-A but, the ones protesting the supporters. The protesters are a tiny fraction to the supporters yet the media focused 90% of their attention on those few. This does not represent the truth of the actual event. The meme from the anti-Chick-Fil-A groups proclaim that opposition to gay marriage is anti-gay."

Pastor Rick Warren, according to the Weekly Standard, tweeted on Wednesday: "Dan Cathy just called me. ChickfilA has already set a world record today, with 7 more hrs to go in the West."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Corporate Ethics, Economics | Comments (9)

LSN: Bakery Sees Business Boom After 'Gay Wedding Cake' Refusal

August 1, 2012 – 2:00 pm

Thaddeus Baklinski of LifeSiteNews:

The owner of a cake shop in Lakewood, Colorado said that, following a refusal to provide a wedding cake for a homosexual couple his business has more than doubled.

Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, told local media that this wasn’t the first time he had turned away homosexuals seeking wedding cakes, but it is the first time his stand for Christian principles has resulted in so much media attention and some death threats.

Phillips explained that since 1993 the family owned and operated business has refused about half-a-dozen requests for same-sex wedding cakes. However, on Sunday he said he was forced to call police because of several death threats over the latest refusal.

The situation developed on July 19 when two homosexuals entered the shop and announced they were getting “married” in Massachusetts and wanted to order a wedding reception cake for their reception in Colorado. When Phillips refused, one of the pair, 28-year-old Dave Mullins, is reported to have said, “F*** you and your homophobic cake shop,” and directed an obscene gesture at the owner before leaving.