(uskings) The imprints that made the name of the Popeyes restaurant chain in 50 years of history (1972)

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., also known as Popeyes and formerly named Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits, is an American multinational chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants that was formed in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana and headquartered in Miami. As of 2021, Popeyes has 3,705 restaurants, which are located in more than 46 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 30 countries worldwide. About 50 locations are company-owned; the vast remainder are franchised.

The company’s milstones:

1972 – Alvin C. Copeland Sr., opens the restaurant as “Popeyes” (after Popeye Doyle of The French Connection). This time he sells spicy, New Orleans-style chicken.

1976 – Popeyes opens first franchise restaurant in Louisiana.

1980 – Popeyes introduces its “Love That Chicken” from Popeyes tagline.

1983 – Popeyes introduces buttermilk biscuits, which later became a significant menu item.

1984 – Popeyes goes global and expands to Toronto, Canada.

1985: 

Popeyes opens its 500th restaurant in Landover, Maryland, putting the brand on equal footing with national competitors.

Popeyes becomes the number-three quick-service chicken chain based on number of units.

1989 – Popeyes introduces crawfish as a limited-time offer in the United States.

1992 – America’s Favorite Chicken Company (also known as AFC Enterprises, Inc.) is formed and purchases both Popeyes and Church’s Chicken®.

1999:

Popeyes surpasses one billion-dollar annual sales mark for the first time.

Popeyes receives MenuMasters Award for Louisiana Legends for its rice dishes.

2001 – Popeyes becomes the number-two quick-service chicken chain based on number of units.

2008:

Popeyes launches the BONAFIDE® brand positioning.

The Popeyes brand reinvents itself as Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen based on its long-standing roots in Louisiana-inspired home cooking. This includes a new logo, distinctive new products and a new advertising campaign touting “LOUISIANA Fast.”

2009:

Popeyes launches Butterfly Shrimp Tackle Box.

Popeyes launches first Popeyes Payday.

2010:

Popeyes introduces Wicked Chicken and Cane Sweeeet Iced Tea™.

Wicked Chicken wins MenuMasters Award for Best Limited-time Offer.

Popeyes BONAFIDE® Chicken beats KFC® Original Recipe® in National Taste Test.

2011:

Popeyes launches non-breaded chicken tenders called Louisiana Leaux™ with flash mob in French Quarter. This item is now known as “Blackened Tenders.”

Popeyes introduces Rip’n Chick’n and Dip’n Chick’n

The Popeyes Foundation, Inc. announces partnership to benefit the ProStart® program to develop the next generation of food-zealot restaurateurs.

2012 – Popeyes and Coca-Cola® “wrap” up 2012 with three unique, custom, one-of-a-kind holiday designer collector cups.

2013 – Popeyes debuts Chicken Waffle Tenders.

2015 – Popeyes presents its Red Stick Chicken.

2019:

Popeyes launched the now-famous Chicken Sandwich on Aug. 12, 2019. It was nothing short of a sensation — as social media buzzed, customer lineups stretched out the doors, and revenue soared. Since the chicken sandwich launch in 2019 the brand has continued to innovate in the kitchen while expanding their footprint to be closer to guests who love that chicken.

According to en.wikipedia; .popeyes.com. Source of photos: internet