History of Popeyes in Timeline

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., commonly known as Popeyes, is an American multinational chain of fried chicken restaurants that was founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The company is headquartered in Miami and is a subsidiary of Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International. As of 2021, Popeyes operates 3,705 restaurants in over 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 30 other countries. Approximately 50 of these locations are company-owned, while the majority are franchised.

1944: Birth of Al Copeland

Al Copeland, the founder of Popeyes, was born in 1944.

1971: Release of "The French Connection"

The movie "The French Connection," which featured the fictional detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, was released in 1971.

June 12, 1972: "Chicken on the Run" Opens

On June 12, 1972, Al Copeland opened "Chicken on the Run" in Arabi, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.

1972: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Founded

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. was founded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1972.

1975: Renamed to "Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken"

By 1975, the company was renamed to "Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken."

1976: Popeyes Begins Franchising

Popeyes started franchising its restaurant in 1976, starting in Louisiana.

1984: Expansion into Canada

In 1984, the Popeyes chain expanded its operations into Canada.

1985: Popeyes Opens 500th Restaurant

Popeyes celebrated a significant milestone in 1985 with the opening of its 500th restaurant.

1989: Copeland Enterprises Acquires Church's

In 1989, Copeland Enterprises made a significant move by acquiring Church's, a rival fast-food chain that also specialized in fried chicken.

1990: Copeland Enterprises Faces Financial Troubles

By 1990, Copeland Enterprises found itself facing financial difficulties as it defaulted on $391 million in debts.

April 1991: Copeland Enterprises Files for Bankruptcy

Copeland Enterprises filed for bankruptcy protection in April 1991.

October 1992: America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. is Formed

In October 1992, a court approved a plan by a group of Copeland's creditors, leading to the establishment of America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. (AFC).

August 8, 2000: Popeyes Announces Australian Expansion Plan

On August 8, 2000, Popeyes unveiled a franchise development plan/agreement that outlined the opening of 35 new restaurant locations across Australia.

2000: Popeyes Ventures into NASCAR Sponsorship

Popeyes began sponsoring NASCAR drivers in 2000, with Rich Bickle driving a Popeyes-sponsored car for six races in the NASCAR Busch Series.

2000: Popeyes Debuts in Indonesia

Popeyes first entered the Indonesian market in 2000 under PT Popeyes Chicken Seafood Indonesia, which later became PT Popindo Selera Prima in 2002.

2001: AFC Goes Public

AFC, the parent company of Popeyes, went public in 2001 with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $142,818,479.

2001: Popeyes Enters the Philippine Market

Popeyes first entered the Philippine market in 2001, but later exited in 2007 due to issues with the franchisor.

2002: Indonesian Franchise Changes Hands

In 2002, the Popeyes franchise in Indonesia was taken over by PT Popindo Selera Prima from PT Popeyes Chicken Seafood Indonesia.

December 29, 2004: AFC Sells Church's to Arcapita

On December 29, 2004, AFC sold Church's to Arcapita, formerly known as Crescent Capital Investments, while retaining ownership of Popeyes.

October 30, 2006: Popeyes Announces Trans Fat-Free Biscuits and Reduced Trans Fat Fries

On October 30, 2006, AFC announced Popeyes' plans to introduce a trans fat-free biscuit and french fries containing just one gram of trans fat by the year's end.

2007: Popeyes Exits the Philippines

In 2007, Popeyes ceased operations in the Philippines due to challenges with its franchisor agreement.

2008: Death of Al Copeland

Al Copeland, the founder of Popeyes, passed away in 2008.

2009: Introduction of "Annie the Chicken Queen"

In 2009, Popeyes introduced a new marketing campaign featuring the character "Annie the Chicken Queen."

November 18, 2011: Popeyes Releases Fried Turducken Sandwich

On November 18, 2011, AFC revealed that Popeyes would launch a Fried Turducken sandwich for the Thanksgiving holiday, featuring the first-ever Turducken patty.

2011: Last Popeyes Store Closes in Indonesia

Popeyes' presence in Indonesia came to an end in 2011 when its last remaining store in Puri Indah Mall, West Jakarta, closed down.

November 2012: Popeyes Ends Licensing Agreement with King Features Syndicate

In late November 2012, AFC announced the mutual termination of their licensing agreement with King Features Syndicate, effectively concluding their association with the Popeye characters.

July 29, 2013: Popeyes Introduces Fried Chicken Strips Dipped in Waffle Batter

Starting on July 29, 2013, AFC began offering a special entree of fried chicken strips dipped in waffle batter, a dish that had already proven successful in some markets.

June 17, 2014: Popeyes Regains Control of its Recipes and Seasonings

On June 17, 2014, Popeyes made a significant announcement, revealing that it had successfully re-acquired complete control over its seasonings, recipes, and other proprietary food preparation techniques.

February 21, 2017: Restaurant Brands International Announces Deal to Buy Popeyes

On February 21, 2017, Restaurant Brands International (RBI) announced a deal to acquire Popeyes for US$1.8 billion.

March 27, 2017: RBI Completes Acquisition of Popeyes

On March 27, 2017, the deal between RBI and Popeyes was finalized, with RBI purchasing Popeyes at $79 per share through Orange, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of RBI.

2017: Popeyes Offers "Sweet and Crunchy" Chicken

For a limited time in 2017, Popeyes offered "Sweet and Crunchy" chicken, which consisted of fried chicken tenders coated in shortbread cookie breading.

March 2018: Popeyes Sponsors Tyler Matthews' NASCAR Debut

In March 2018, Popeyes sponsored Tyler Matthews' NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway.

2018: Popeyes Plans Return to the Philippines

Popeyes initiated plans to re-enter the Philippine market in 2018, partnering with Kuya J Group to establish a new presence.

May 19, 2019: Popeyes Returns to the Philippines

On May 19, 2019, Popeyes marked its return to the Philippines after a previous exit, opening a new branch in Pasig under a deal with Kuya J Group.

August 12, 2019: Popeyes Launches Chicken Sandwich Nationwide

The sandwich was launched nationwide in the US on August 12, 2019, at all Popeyes locations.

August 2019: Popeyes Launches Chicken Sandwich

Popeyes introduced a chicken sandwich to their menu in August 2019, aiming to compete with Chick-fil-A's similar flagship sandwich.

October 28, 2019: Popeyes Announces Return of Chicken Sandwich

On October 28, 2019, Popeyes announced that the chicken sandwich would return to locations across the US on November 3.

May 15, 2020: Popeyes Expands to China

Popeyes opened its first restaurant in China on May 15, 2020, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.

September 2020: Popeyes' Chicken Sandwich Launches in Canada

In September 2020, Popeyes expanded the availability of its chicken sandwich to Canada.

December 2020: Popeyes Closes South Korean Operations

In December 2020, Popeyes announced the closure of all its restaurants in South Korea, citing poor sales partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 25, 2021: First Popeyes Restaurant Opens in South Asia

On February 25, 2021, the first Popeyes restaurant in South Asia opened its doors in Bambalapitiya, Sri Lanka.

March 2021: Popeyes Sets Sights on Mexico and the UK

In March 2021, Popeyes announced its plans to expand into Mexico and the United Kingdom as part of its international growth strategy.

March 24, 2021: Popeyes Announces Expansion into South Asia

Popeyes signed a franchise agreement on March 24, 2021, with Jubilant FoodWorks to open restaurants in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.

October 2021: Popeyes Signs Agreement to Enter Romanian Market

In October 2021, Popeyes signed an agreement with Sterling Cruise to open 90 restaurants in Romania over the following decade.

November 20, 2021: Popeyes Debuts in the United Kingdom

On November 20, 2021, Popeyes opened its first restaurant in the United Kingdom, located in Westfield Stratford City, as part of its global expansion.

2021: Popeyes Reaches 3,705 Restaurants Worldwide

By 2021, Popeyes had expanded to over 3,705 restaurants globally, with locations in over 46 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 30 countries.

2021: Popeyes Introduces Flounder Sandwich

In 2021, Popeyes expanded its menu by introducing a flounder sandwich.

April 9, 2022: Popeyes Launches in Romania

Popeyes expanded its European presence by opening its first restaurant in Romania on April 9, 2022, as part of a franchise agreement.

December 23, 2022: Popeyes Returns to Indonesia

Popeyes made its comeback in Indonesia on December 23, 2022, opening a new store in Skyline Building, Central Jakarta, under PT Sari Chicken Indonesia.