Company Dow big Game

Trophy and big-game hunting is under fire after the killing of a Zimbabwean lion called “Cecil.” Agence France-Presse/Getty Images/ Zimbabwe National Parks

A handful of social media users have urged a boycott against sandwich chain Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches while posting pictures of founder and owner Jimmy John Liautaud posed next to the bodies of elephants and a rhinoceros. Several tweets (see below) were appended with the hashtag #boycottjimmyjohns.

Atlantic Street declined to comment on how the boycott might affect its investment in the franchisee group. Weston Presidio and Jimmy John’s did not respond to a request for comment.

The company has a solid presence on social media, where it has blasted nearly 78, 300 tweets to 385, 000 followers. Fans of the shop have tweeted pictures including a bride on her wedding day enjoying a Jimmy John’s sub, and laments over living outside the chain’s delivery area. One user, tweeting under the handle @Cara_Ann_B spoke up against a proposed boycott, writing, “Unless JJs is secretly putting rhino meat in my #12 Beach Club, I’m not abt to boycott delish sandwiches #JimmyJohns.”

Atlantic Street Partner and founder Peter Shabecoff said the firm had been evaluating an investment in Jimmy John’s “for some time.”

“We think there’s an enormous growth opportunity, ” he said. The firm plans to help Sandwich Shop Holdings focus initially on its expansion within Chicago, and then eventually move outside of the city, said Mr. Shabecoff. “We think we can help improve performance, same-store sales and expansion, ” he said. The company could also make a small add-on acquisition of more Jimmy John ‘s units, he added.