Some Australians have called for a boycott of the country’s largest bakery chain after finding out its founder donates money to conservative causes.
On Thursday, it was revealed Bakers Delight founder Roger Gillespie was among the many wealthy people who have supported the Advance Australia (AA) lobby group.
Mr Gillespie told the Australian Financial Review he donated $20,000 to AA and $14,000 to the Liberal Party in 2022 because ‘he backed the group due to its position on the (Voice) referendum’.
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament was strongly defeated, losing in every state and winning only in the ACT, last October.
But for some in the minority who backed the Voice, Mr Gillespie’s support for the No case is reason enough to boycott his business.
Some progressive Australians have called for a boycott of Australia’s largest bakery chain after finding out its founder donates money to conservative causes. A young woman is pictured working in a bakery
‘Bakers Delight, it turns out, are not delightful at all. Boycott,’ wrote one person on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘Will not be buying anything from Bakers Delight again,’ said another.
A third commenter said ‘This guy must be super confident his political views won’t affect sales’.
But there was also a lot of support for Mr Gillespie and the bakery chain.
‘I will continue to support #BakersDelight, great products and sensible management,’ wrote one.
‘Thank you Bakers Delight, will be making sure to buy more from your stores from today!’ said another.
Some personalised their attack, with one saying they had ‘Never shopped at #BakersDelight but sure as hell will now. 4 cafes to stock.
‘Suck it up leftie losers. #N0 won.’
Another said they will now buy their baked goods from the chain more often.
‘Looks like I am shopping #BakersDelight MORE. Well done management for not being afraid of the minority,’ they wrote.
Some commenters pointed out that the call for a boycott was not fair as it would hurt the individual shop owners more than Mr Gillespie.
‘Bakers Delight stores are franchises. A boycott will achieve nothing. No one thought this through,’ one X user posted.
Despite the nasty tone of many of the online comments, some found it to be an opportunity for humour.
‘I boycotted this place when it first opened and they told me they don’t sell meat pies at a bakery. Now that is un Australian #BakersDelight,’ one joker wrote.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bakers Delight and Mr Gillespie for comment.
Bakers Delight founder Roger Gillespie (right) and his wife Lesley are pictured in one of their franchises
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
247
