Bakers Delight customers and franchisees are divided over revelations the company’s founder put his money behind the No campaign in ‘s unsuccessful Voice to Parliament referendum last year.
Earlier this month, it was revealed company founder Roger Gillespie was among those who financially supported the Advance lobby group – one of the biggest organisations to campaign against the Voice.
Mr Gillespie told the n Financial Review he donated $20,000 to Advance and $14,000 to the Liberal Party in 2022 ‘due to its position on the (Voice) referendum’.
The revelation led several left-wing Aussies to call for a boycott – while others, such as ex-Federal MP Craig Kelly, doubled down on their support for the chain, buying up big on baked goods.
One loyal Bakers Delight customer shared a viral photo of a busy queue outside his local store just hours later, quipping: ‘What is the oppose of “Go Woke, Go Broke?”‘.
A loyal Bakers Delight customer used a photo of a queue outside his local store as proof Aussies were supporting the chain
Shakinah, in her 20s, said she does not plan to boycott Bakers Delight just because the founder donated to the No campaign
Daily Mail took to the streets of Sydney to see how customers really felt about Mr Gillespie’s donations.
Shakinah, in her 20s, had just left a Baker’s Delight store when Daily Mail informed her of the controversy.
‘Oh, I didn’t know that, wow. It’s a bit selfish donating money to people who don’t support the cause.
‘I feel like he should just stay out of it, like, it’s not his business,’ she said. ‘But I’m not going to boycott.’
Luka, in her 20s, used to work at Baker’s Delight and said that the founder’s contributions to the No camp had dissuaded her from ever returning.
She did not want her face photographed for fear of backlash.
‘Baker’s Delight is such a popular place all around and the fact that I didn’t even know that I was basically supporting the No campaign makes me very mad,’ she said.
‘I don’t want my bread to be political and I might boycott Baker’s just like I’m boycotting Maccas because of their support of Israel.’
Luka, in her 20s, is an ex-Baker’s Delight employee who left the company in 2021 for an unrelated reason. She says she will never eat there again
Tim, in his 40s, said that Mr Gillespie wasted his money since the referendum was a resounding No anyway
Tim, in his 40s, said capitalism was based on people spending money wherever they like.
‘If people want to boycott it then that’s their choice,’ he said.
‘I think people who spend money trying to stop progress, especially social progress, I find that baffling.
‘I don’t really shop at Bakers Delight anyway, but all I can say to the founder is: what a waste of money that was.’
A Bakers Delight franchisee who was happy to share his opinion, but asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘I’m an immigrant, I grew up outside of and came here.
‘When the Voice referendum happened I wanted to see how the n public as such thought about it and it was declined. That’s the beauty of democracy.
‘But concerning the founder’s donations, all I can say that I’ve been with Bakers Delight for all of my life here and I know the incredible things that they have done for me.
‘So I don’t have a view on that in the sense that any person can have a view, right or wrong, but I think if he has that view and if he has the courage to say it in the open then I don’t have an issue with that.’
Lucinda, in her 20s, felt it was sneaky that the donations were made in private
Lucinda, in her 20s, said that it felt sneaky that nobody knew about the donations until months after the referendum was over.
‘I feel like that’s inappropriate for him to get involved,’ she said.
‘We didn’t know until now and the matter is already said and done so it just feels sneaky and it’s something that I just don’t agree with.
‘I don’t think I’ll be going back, honestly.’
Kate, in her 40s, said that the franchisees should not be held responsible for Mr Gillespie’s donations – and won’t be boycotting
Kate, in her 40s, said that she would not be boycotting Bakers Delight because that would be unfair to the franchisees of each store.
‘I wouldn’t be boycotting Bakers Delight because it’s a (franchise)… so I believe that each location is owned individually,’ she said.
‘On one hand I was very disappointed with the outcome of the referendum so my initial response is to think negatively, but I guess you’re allowed to donate your own money politically as you see fit.
‘I suppose if all the Bakers Delight owners didn’t have a group decision on it, then me not taking my patronage there is unfair to whoever owns that particular store because their name has been tarnished by something that is out of their control.’
Others who wished to remain anonymous said that it was not their place to judge others
One Bakers Delight customer, who wished to remain anonymous, said that she doubted the concept of the Voice after hearing the thoughts of some Aboriginal elders on the issue.
‘I’m not a fan of how the Voice referendum turned out but I’ve heard a lot of the elders who told us to vote No, and that’s what I’ve heard from people that actually know Aboriginal elders,’ she said.
‘The founder of Bakers Delight donating doesn’t make me happy but I’m not going to boycott the stores. Everyone has a right to their own opinion and that’s what he wanted to do.
‘If he supports Liberal stuff then he’s just talking about what he likes and everyone’s entitled to their opinion and they can donate whatever way they want.
‘It’s not that crazy.’
Bakers Delight founder Roger Gillespie (right) and his wife Lesley are pictured
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament was roundly defeated, losing in every state and winning only in the ACT, last October.
When it was revealed that Mr Gillespie had donated tens of thousands to the No campaign backlash erupted online and many quickly called for a boycott.
‘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.
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.
Bakers Delight and Mr Gillespie were approached for comment.
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