Popeyes opened its first restaurant (formerly known as Chicken on the Run) in 1972 and has since exploded in popularity, eventually growing into one of the largest chicken chains in the United States.
Throughout its 52-year history, Popeyes has dazzled customers with its Louisiana-style fried chicken and Southern classics like biscuits, mashed potatoes, and red beans and rice. Despite the popularity of these classics, the fast-food chain continues to offer fresh and exciting menu items.
In 2024, Popeyes is not only testing new menu offerings, but also implementing various operational upgrades to improve customer and employee experience. In addition, the fast food chain is looking to accelerate its growth in the U.S. as well as international markets.
From new menu items to kitchen upgrades, here are six big changes impacting Popeyes this year and beyond.
Exciting Menu Additions
Louisiana Kitchen has announced several new menu items for 2024. Take, for example, the new Golden BBQ Chicken Sandwich, which launched in May. The sandwich features buttermilk-battered chicken breast, barrel-aged pickles, and sweet and sour golden BBQ sauce. You can also elevate the sandwich with haval cheese and applewood smoked bacon.
Recently, Popeyes expanded its wing selection to include boneless wings in six flavors: Classic, Honey Lemon Pepper, Signature Hot, Honey BBQ, Sweet & Spicy, and Roasted Garlic Parmesan. The chain added wings to its menu permanently in November, so only time will tell what other items will be added to Popeyes' menu in the future.
Kitchen Upgrades
Popeyes is making “30 distinct changes” to its kitchen in an effort to modernize. National Restaurant News.
“People love Popeyes food, but we've heard stories of inconsistencies in the experience,” Sami Sadiki, CFO of Popeyes parent company Restaurant Business International, said at TD Cowen's Future of the Consumer conference in June. “We did some research and found that our kitchen format hadn't been updated in about 10 years. A lot has changed in that time, from the introduction of boneless chicken to digital becoming a more meaningful channel. Those changes require a rethink.”
RBI began testing “easy-to-run kitchens” in concentrated markets earlier this year, starting with California. These renovated kitchens feature new equipment, improved kitchen layouts, upgraded technology and simplified processes. One of the kitchen upgrades is an automated chicken batter-wrapping machine, which allows employees more time to focus on other tasks.
“I've visited our Easy-to-Run kitchens in California twice this year and heard from our franchisees and team members how much of an impact streamlined kitchens and automated ordering are having on our business,” RBI CEO Joshua Kobza said on an earnings call in April.
Kobza said in February that the company plans to introduce “several more” of these retrofit kitchens in 2024. He added that RBI aims to expand this system-wide “hopefully in late 2024, 2025.”
New Restaurants in the US
A new Popeyes location may be opening in a city near you. In February, RBI announced plans to expand its operations in the U.S. and Canada, growing from 3,400 stores in 2023 to more than 4,200 by 2028, with 800 new stores opening during that time. The chain also forecasts opening at least 7,000 new international restaurants over the next five years.
International expansion
Popeyes isn't just opening new stores in North America. The chicken chain is also growing around the world. In February, RBI announced that Popeyes would expand its presence in Italy through a new franchise agreement with Restaurant Brands Iberia (RB Iberia), the parent company of Burger King Spain, Burger King Portugal, Popeyes Spain, and Tim Hortons Spain.
The company did not give an exact date but said its first Italian restaurant is expected to open “later this year.” Popeyes currently operates restaurants in more than 35 countries.
“We are excited to lead Popeyes' expansion into Italy. Popeyes is an iconic brand with a great reputation in Spain and we are committed to its success within the group,” Gregorio Jimenez, chairman of Restaurant Brands Iberia, said in a press release.
In addition to Italy, Popeyes is also set to grow in China. RBI announced the acquisition of Popeyes China from Tim's China this week, noting that the company “expects to accelerate the pace of restaurant growth through investment in local teams and restaurant development.” There are currently 14 Popeyes restaurants in Shanghai. As for its longer-term plans, RBI added that, as with Popeyes' other international markets, it intends to bring in local partners to “form a more traditional franchise master franchisee.”
New Deals
As many fast-food chains roll out discount menu items and focus on affordability, Popeyes is joining the price war. In June, the fast-food chain relaunched its Big Box promotion for $6.99. Each box includes two pieces of fried chicken, a buttermilk biscuit, and two sides.
For those looking for a bigger meal, Popeyes is also currently offering a “Bigger Box” that includes 10 pieces of fried chicken or 10 chicken tenders and four biscuits, both priced at $20. Both offers are available nationwide for a limited time.
In addition to these great deals, Popeyes fans can also enjoy other perks in July: For one day only, participating restaurants will give away six pieces of the chain's new boneless wings for free with any purchase, and through July 14, customers will also receive six free boneless wings with any purchase of $10 or more.
Changes in Leadership
Popeyes has undergone several leadership changes throughout 2024. In January, the company named Jordan D'Aleo as chief operating officer for Popeyes U.S. and Canada. D'Aleo has been with RBI since 2016 and oversees the brand's field teams, restaurant operations and company-owned restaurants.
A few months later, RBI announced further leadership shakeups. In March, it appointed Sam Siddiqui, who had been with RBI for 11 years, as its chief financial officer. Prior to that role, Siddiqui served as president of Popeyes U.S. and Canada for nearly four years. In the latest shakeup, Siddiqui was promoted to replace Jeff Klein, who had been Popeyes' chief marketing officer for two years.
Additionally, Thiago Santelmo was named president of international operations for Popeyes, succeeding David Sear, who served as an advisor to assist with the leadership transition. Santelmo has been with RBI for 11 years, first as general manager and then as president of the region, where he initiated a focus on Latin America and led the company's growth in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.
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