Chick-fil-A is putting the finishing touches on its Orillia restaurant and is set to officially open on June 13.
The Orillia restaurant will be the 14th Chick-fil-A in Ontario. The fast-food chain is on track to have 20 restaurants in Canada by 2025, officials say.
“My vision is to serve great food and care while supporting our community," said owner and operator Bradley Bache in a written statement to OrilliaMatters.
"It’s an exciting time for Orillia right now as the community is growing and evolving. I’m energized by the opportunity to be a part of this positive change."
Chick-fil-A aims to address hunger and support education and healthcare systems in Orillia, Bache says.
Bache says he's "thrilled" about the opportunities to give back in the neighbourhoods surrounding his restaurant. He plans to do so by donating surplus food from the restaurant to helping feed those in need through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program and sponsoring youth sports leagues.
Bache, a Burlington native, says he's also focused on developing his 80-110 full- and part-time employees and creating opportunities for advancement within his restaurant. He plans on mentoring students, young professionals, and employees of all ages and backgrounds.
"I want my team members to feel genuinely cared for, build meaningful relationships, and truly enjoy their experience working at Chick-fil-A," he said, noting that Chick-fil-A often offers their employees opportunities for hands-on training and mentoring, competitive pay and benefits, and the chance to apply for scholarships to support continued education. To learn more about employment opportunities, click here.
Chick-fil-A has faced controversy and protests in the past, starting in 2012 when CEO Dan T. Cathy made public comments opposing same-sex marriage. It was found that the company’s charitable arm was making donations to organizations hostile to LGBTQ rights. The Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A has said it has stopped donating to such organizations.
Bache did not answer direct questions from OrilliaMatters including related to the past controversy, and instead only provided a statement on the opening of the Orillia restaurant.
In celebration of the Orillia restaurant's opening, Chick-fil-A will donate approximately $34,000 to Second Harvest Canada to support local hunger relief through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, he explained.
“Taking part in Chick-fil-A Shared Table is a great way to give back to those in need and especially with food, given the current costs of living in Canada,” Bache said. “As a member of our community, I look forward to building strong relationships and finding ways to give back to those in need.”
More than 25 million meals have been created using Chick-fil-A Shared Table donations from 2,000 restaurants throughout Canada and the U.S.
Located at 3285 Monarch Dr., Chick-fil-A will be open for dine-in, pick-up, and drive-thru from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
In a press release, Chick-fil-A says the restaurant serves customers with "great-tasting food made with quality ingredients."
"Many items on the menu are hand-prepared daily and most of our produce is delivered fresh up to six times per week," the press release stated.
To see the full Chick-fil-A menu, click here.