The chicken chain will open more than 200 new locations in the United States and Canada this year, the company announced on Tuesday. Popeyes also said it will open additional locations in several other locations around the world, including South Korea, France, India, China and the UK. More than half of the new Popeyes locations scheduled to open in 2022 will have dual propulsion. Thrus, designed to get customers through the queue faster. Fast drive-thru times are very important for fast food restaurants. If a customer is held up in a Popeyes line, they might go to a competitor next time – and on the other hand, consistently fast service can foster loyalty. Tech upgrades are also coming to Popeyes’ kitchens to help those working in the back of the house work more efficiently.
A handful of the new restaurants will be in New York City, including a new flagship in Times Square, as well as others in Manhattan and Staten Island.
The Times Square restaurant, slated to open in June to mark the brand’s 50th anniversary, will include features such as a new design, branded merchandise, self-service kiosks and a 21st-century dumbwaiter dubbed a “two-story food truck.” for customers dining on the second floor.
Popeyes has already been a growth driver for parent company Restaurant Brands International (QSR), which also owns Burger King and Tim Hortons. With the expansion investment, RBI hopes for further growth impulses.
“Popeyes is one of the fastest growing brands within RBI, particularly in terms of building new restaurants,” Popeyes President Sami Siddiqui told CNN Business. “Most of the growth is expected in the US and Canada, where business has accelerated significantly.”
Siddiqui’s comments echo those made by RBI CEO Jose Cil earlier this year. “Development remains a key priority…for the brand for long-term growth,” Cil said during an analyst call in February. “We’re only scratching the surface of the possibilities for Popeyes, and I truly believe the brand is poised to become one of the fastest growing in the industry.”
Chicken powered growth
Cil’s comments are reflected in Popeyes’ performance during the pandemic. It’s a gem in RBI’s portfolio, especially compared to the challenges its other brands faced at the start of the pandemic.
In 2020, sales at Tim Horton restaurants open for at least a year fell 17.5%, and sales at Burger King restaurants open for at least a year fell 11.1%. In contrast, Popeyes’ sales rose 17.7% over the same period, thanks in part to customer interest in the chain’s chicken sandwich.
Last year, Tim Hortons and Burger King rallied. Sales increased 12.5% at Tim’s restaurants open for at least a year and 15.9% for the same category of stores at Burger King.
Popeyes also saw an improvement in 2021, although it was more modest after its gains in 2020: Sales at restaurants open for at least a year rose 7.3% over the past year. Popeyes opened 208 new restaurants over the course of 2021, making it “a landmark year,” Cil said in February.