Popeyes, a US fried chicken restaurant brand, has announced its plan to enter the UK in 2021, with the goal of opening 350 outlets over the next 10 years.
Founded in New Orleans in 1972, Popeyes currently has 3,400 restaurants across 29 countries. The move into the UK builds on the company’s expansion in the European market and follows roll-outs in Spain in 2019 and Switzerland last year.
Popeyes will enter the UK market as part of an agreement between PLK Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI), Ring International Holdings (RIH) and hospitality-industry veteran, Elias Diaz Sese.
The first Popeyes restaurant in the UK is expected to open by the end of 2021 and will represent the brand’s 11th country in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, which already has more than 350 Popeyes restaurants.
The launch in the UK is expected to create new jobs, spanning operational roles in construction, supply chain and distribution, and in-store staff.
David Shear, President International of RBI, commented: “Popeyes has established itself as an international brand, famed for the creation of authentic, Louisiana-inspired fried chicken products. Our UK launch will build on other successful international expansions in Spain, Switzerland, China, the Philippines and most recently in Sri Lanka.
“We are confident that our UK guests will love their fried chicken from Popeyes and we look forward to offering an alternative product in a major international market that we believe is ripe for disruption.”
Elias Diaz Sese, the co-founder of Popeyes UK, added: “We are very pleased to launch Popeyes, a brand that has brought moments of celebration to guests globally, something we believe is important more now than ever. It allows us to contribute in hardship moments for the country by creating hundreds of career opportunities.”
NAM Implications:
- Apart from post-lockdown hospitality issues…
- UK super-savvy consumers may soon become more sensitive to ingredient sourcing…
- i.e. EU-standard chicken supplies vs. Rest-of-World?
- Watch this space.
