FLDS: National chain accuses Hildale fast-food outlet over brand name

National chain accuses Hildale fast-food outlet of illegally using its brand name

The company that owns the Chester Fried brand has moved to stop a fast-food restaurant in Hildale from illegally using its trademark.

Roxana Keikavousi, senior account executive for Chester’s International, learned that Big Dan’s Drive-In was using the mark through a story on “The Polygamy Files,” a Salt Lake Tribune blog, about a religious discrimination complaint lodged by Andrew Chatwin.

Chatwin alleges he and some family members were repeatedly denied service at the restaurant because they are no longer members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He filed a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office on July 11, a day after being escorted out of Big Dan’s by local police.

Keikavousi said Chester’s initially granted a license to Nephi Draper, who then sold the restaurant to Dan Steed in 2005. That violated the licensing agreement, she said.

“Unbeknownst to Chester’s, the restaurant in Hildale continued to operate using Chester Fried signage while using non-Chester Fried branded supplies,” she said in a July 28 e-mail to The Tribune.

“Chester’s today initiated action against Mr. Steed to immediately cease and desist use of the Chester Fried brand, which he is in no way authorized to use.”

She said the company rejects “principles of exclusion and discrimination in all cases” and its mission is to provide “great tasting food to all customers no matter their beliefs or background.”