A single photo showed Aussies lining up at Bakers Delight in big numbers. Here’s what they REALLY think about calls for a boycott after founder backed Voice No campaign

Bakers Delight customers and franchisees are divided over revelations that the company’s founder poured his money into the No campaign in Australia’s failed Voice to Parliament referendum last year.

Earlier this month it was revealed that the company’s founder, Roger Gillespie, was among those who financially supported lobby group Advance Australia – one of the largest organizations campaigning against the Voice.

Mr Gillespie told the Australian Financial Statement he donated $20,000 to Advance and $14,000 to the Liberal Party in 2022 “because of its position on the (Voice) referendum.”

The revelation prompted 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 and bought up large quantities of pastries.

A loyal Bakers Delight customer shared a viral photo of a busy queue outside his local store a few hours later, joking: ‘What’s the opposite of “Go Woke, Go Broke?”.

Shakinah, in her 20s, said she doesn’t plan to boycott Bakers Delight just because its founder donated to the No campaign.

Daily Mail Australia took to the streets of Sydney to see what customers really thought about Mr Gillespie’s donations.

Shakinah, in her twenties, had just left a Baker’s Delight store when Daily Mail Australia alerted her to the controversy.

“Oh, I didn’t know that, wow. It’s a bit selfish to donate money to people who don’t support the cause.

“I feel like he should just stay out of it, it’s none of his business,” she said. “But I’m not going to boycott.”

Luka, in her 20s, used to work at Baker’s Delight and said the founder’s contributions to the No camp had kept her from ever returning.

She did not want her face photographed for fear of backlash.

“Baker’s Delight is such a popular place across Australia and the fact that I didn’t even know I was actually supporting the No campaign makes me very angry,” she said.

“I don’t want my bread and butter to be political and I could boycott Baker’s just like I boycotted Maccas because of their support for Israel.”

Luka, in his twenties, is an ex-employee of Baker’s Delight who left the company in 2021 for an unrelated reason. She says she will never eat there again

Tim, in his forties, said Mr Gillespie had wasted his money as the referendum was a resounding no anyway

Tim, in his forties, said that capitalism was based on people spending money wherever they wanted.

‘I“If people want to boycott it, that’s their choice,” he said.

‘I think people who spend money to stop progress, especially social progress, find that mind-boggling.

‘I don’t really shop at Bakers Delight anyway, but all I can say to the founder is: what a waste of money.’

A Bakers Delight franchisee, keen to share his views but wish to remain anonymous, said: “I’m an immigrant, I grew up outside Australia and came here.

“When the Voice referendum happened, I wanted to see what the Australian public thought about it as such, but it was rejected. That’s the beauty of democracy.

“But in terms of the founder’s donations, all I can say is that I’ve been here at Bakers Delight all my life and I know the incredible things they’ve done for me.

“So I don’t have an opinion on that in the sense that any person can have an opinion, right or wrong, but I think if he has that opinion and if he has the courage to say it openly, then I don’t either.” I have no problem with that.’

Lucinda, in her twenties, found it secretive that the donations were made privately

Lucinda, in her twenties, said it secretly felt that no one knew about the donations until months after the referendum was over.

“I feel like it’s inappropriate for him to get involved,” she said.

‘Until now we didn’t know and it’s already said and done, so it just feels sneaky and it’s something I just don’t agree with.

“I don’t think I’ll go back, to be honest.”

Kate, in her 40s, said the franchisees should not be held responsible for Mr Gillespie’s donations – and that they will not boycott

Kate, in her 40s, said she would not boycott Bakers Delight because that would be unfair to each store’s franchisees.

“I wouldn’t boycott Bakers Delight because it’s a (franchise) … so I believe each location is individually owned,” she said.

‘On the one hand I was very disappointed with the outcome of the referendum, so my first reaction is to think negatively, but I think you can donate your own money politically as you wish.

“I suppose if all the owners of Bakers Delight hadn’t made a collective decision about it, it would be unfair for me to not take my patronage there to the owner of that particular store because their name has been tarnished by something they have no control over to have.’

Others who wished to remain anonymous said it was not their job to judge others

A Bakers Delight customer, who wished to remain anonymous, said she questioned the concept of the Stem after hearing the thoughts of some Aboriginal elders on the issue.

“I’m not a fan of how the Voice referendum went, but I’ve heard a lot of elders telling us to vote no, and that’s what I’ve heard from people who actually know Aboriginal elders,” she said.

‘I am not happy that the founder of Bakers Delight donates, but I am not going to boycott the stores. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that’s what he wanted to do.

“If he supports liberal causes, he’s just talking about what he likes and everyone is entitled to their opinion and can donate in any way they want.

“It’s not that crazy.”

Pictured are Bakers Delight founder Roger Gillespie (right) and his wife Lesley

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 of dollars to the No campaign, there was a backlash online and many quickly called for a boycott.

‘Bakers Delight turns out not to be delicious at all. Boycott,” someone wrote on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I won’t 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, I will be sure to buy more from your stores from today!’ said another.

Bakers Delight and Mr Gillespie were contacted for comment.

Craig Kelly thanked boycotters for ‘giving so much publicity to this wonderful Australian company’