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  • Arabi, Louisiana, U.S.
    Monday Jun 12, 1972

    Chicken on the Run

    Arabi, Louisiana, U.S.
    Monday Jun 12, 1972

    Popeyes was founded in Arabi, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans in St. Bernard Parish. It first opened its doors on June 12, 1972, as "Chicken on the Run".




  • Louisiana, U.S.
    1975

    Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken

    Louisiana, U.S.
    1975

    By 1975, the company had been renamed Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken.




  • Canada
    1984

    Chain expanded to Canada

    Canada
    1984

    The chain expanded to Canada in 1984.




  • U.S.
    1985

    500th restaurant

    U.S.
    1985

    The chain opened its 500th restaurant in 1985.




  • U.S.
    Apr, 1991

    Company filed for bankruptcy protection

    U.S.
    Apr, 1991

    By 1990, Copeland Enterprises was in default on $391 million in debts it had taken on in its 1989 purchase of Church's "Church's Chicken", and in April 1991, the company filed for bankruptcy protection.




  • U.S.
    Oct, 1992

    America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc.

    U.S.
    Oct, 1992

    In October 1992, the court approved a plan by a group of Copeland's creditors that resulted in the creation of America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. (AFC) to serve as the new parent company for Popeyes and Church's, another fast-food chain specializing in chicken.




  • Australia
    Tuesday Aug 8, 2000

    Popeyes announced a franchise development plan/agreement that included 35 new restaurant

    Australia
    Tuesday Aug 8, 2000

    On August 8, 2000, Popeyes announced a franchise development plan/agreement that included 35 new restaurant locations around Australia in a bid to solidify their presence within the Asia Pacific region. All were to be located in the capital city of NSW, Sydney.


  • U.S.
    2001

    An initial public offering (IPO) of $142,818,479

    U.S.
    2001

    AFC went public in 2001 with an initial public offering (IPO) of $142,818,479.


  • Bahrain Bay, Manama, Bahrain
    Wednesday Dec 29, 2004

    AFC sold Church's to Arcapita

    Bahrain Bay, Manama, Bahrain
    Wednesday Dec 29, 2004

    On December 29, 2004, "America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc." sold Church's to Arcapita (formerly Crescent Capital Investments) retaining Popeyes.


  • U.S.
    Monday Oct 30, 2006

    "AFC" announced that Popeyes planned to introduce a trans-fat-free biscuit as well as french fries

    U.S.
    Monday Oct 30, 2006

    On October 30, 2006, America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. "AFC" announced that Popeyes planned to introduce a trans fat-free biscuit as well as french fries containing one gram of trans fat by year-end.


  • New York, U.S.
    Nov, 2006

    "AFC" announced the mutual termination of their licensing contract with King Features Syndicate

    New York, U.S.
    Nov, 2006

    In late November 2006, "America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc." "AFC" announced the mutual termination of their licensing contract with King Features Syndicate, effectively ending their association with the Popeye characters.


  • U.S.
    Friday Nov 18, 2011

    Popeyes would release a Fried Turducken sandwich

    U.S.
    Friday Nov 18, 2011

    On November 18, 2011, America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. "AFC" announced that, for the Thanksgiving holiday, Popeyes would release a Fried Turducken sandwich that would show off the first-ever Turducken patty.


  • U.S.
    Monday Jul 29, 2013

    "AFC" began offering a special entree of fried chicken strips dipped in waffle batter

    U.S.
    Monday Jul 29, 2013

    On July 29, 2013, America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. "AFC" began offering a special entree of fried chicken strips dipped in waffle batter, which was already a proven success in some markets.


  • U.S.
    Tuesday Jun 17, 2014

    Re-acquired full control

    U.S.
    Tuesday Jun 17, 2014

    On June 17, 2014, Popeyes announced it had re-acquired full control of its seasonings, recipes, and other proprietary food preparation techniques from Diversified Foods & Seasonings, which remained under the control of Al Copeland and his estate after the creditor sale of Popeyes to AFC.


  • Toronto, Canada
    Tuesday Feb 21, 2017

    US$1.8 billion deal

    Toronto, Canada
    Tuesday Feb 21, 2017

    On February 21, 2017, Restaurant Brands International announced a deal to buy Popeyes for US$1.8 billion.


  • Canada
    Monday Mar 27, 2017

    Deal closed with RBI purchasing Popeyes

    Canada
    Monday Mar 27, 2017

    On March 27, 2017, the deal closed with Restaurant Brands International "RBI" purchasing Popeyes at $79 per share via Orange, Inc, an indirect subsidiary of RBI.


  • U.S.
    2017

    Popeyes offered "Sweet and Crunchy" chicken

    U.S.
    2017

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


  • Worldwide
    2018

    Popeyes has 3,102 restaurants worldwide

    Worldwide
    2018

    As of 2018, Popeyes has 3,102 restaurants worldwide.


  • U.S.
    Monday Aug 12, 2019

    Marketing Campaign

    U.S.
    Monday Aug 12, 2019

    The marketing campaign, designed by advertising agency GSD&M started on August 12, 2019, with a tweet on Popeyes' Twitter feed. The new sandwich went viral immediately and prompted responses from nearly every fast-food chain including McDonald's, Chick-Fil-A, and Wendy's.


  • U.S.
    Aug, 2019

    Popeyes began selling a chicken sandwich

    U.S.
    Aug, 2019

    Popeyes began selling a chicken sandwich in August 2019 to compete with Chick-fil-A's similar sandwich. The company first launched the sandwich at Long Beach restaurant Sweet Dixie Kitchen, a locally famous spot that had become known for reselling fried chicken that it had purchased at Popeyes.


  • U.S.
    Friday Oct 25, 2019

    Popeyes announced that the chicken sandwich would return to locations across the US

    U.S.
    Friday Oct 25, 2019

    On October 25, 2019, Popeyes announced that the chicken sandwich would return to locations across the US on November 3.


  • China
    Friday May 15, 2020

    Popeyes opened the first store in China

    China
    Friday May 15, 2020

    Popeyes opened the first store in China on May 15, 2020.


  • Canada
    Sep, 2020

    Popeyes' chicken sandwich went on sale in Canada

    Canada
    Sep, 2020

    In September 2020, Popeyes' chicken sandwich went on sale in Canada.


  • South Korea
    Dec, 2020

    Popeyes announced that it will be closing all locations in South Korea

    South Korea
    Dec, 2020

    In December 2020, Popeyes announced that it will be closing all locations in South Korea, due to poor sales partially attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.


  • Mexico
    Mar, 2021

    Stores in Mexico

    Mexico
    Mar, 2021

    In March 2021, it announced plans to open stores in Mexico.


  • U.S.
    2021

    Flounder sandwich

    U.S.
    2021

    In 2021, Popeye’s introduced a flounder sandwich.


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