Chick-fil-A took a shellacking for its president’s remarks on traditional marriage.

It was called (by PR Daily and others) a public relations disaster, blunder, nightmare—you name it.

Yet, despite all the bluster, the fast-food chicken chain’s business is clipping along.

According to USA Today, which cited a report from research firm Sandelman and Associates:

“So much for ‘bad’ PR. Consumer use of the chain was up 2.2 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period in 2011, says the Sandelman survey of more than 30,000 fast-food consumers conducted in markets where Chick-fil-A is located. Market share was up 0.6 percent, and total ad awareness was up a hefty 6.5 percent.”

USA Today interviewed some public relations professionals who were “confounded” by the news.

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