Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits

Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits is a Cajun-style fried chicken fast food chain. The first restaurant was opened by Al Copeland in 1972 in a New Orleans suburb.http://www.popeyes.com/story.php The chain is owned by AFC Enterprises, which purchased the chain in 1993. The chain offers more than 1,900 restaurants in the United States and has about 24 restaurants outside the U.S..http://www.hoovers.com/company/Popeyes_Louisiana_Kitchen/rfhhsyi-1.html,<ref> In recent years the chain has returned to a focus on its Cajun roots by offering new menu items such as its Louisiana Legends line in addition to its famous fried chicken.

The chain has grown significantly through franchising.<ref>http://www.popeyesfranchising.com/area.php Potential franchisees must have a restaurant background and have a net worth of at least 1/2 million dollars. This may be achieved through partnering. Restaurants can be free-standing or included in a larger venue such as a mall. Popeye's prefers restaurants to be located in an area with high traffic with easy access and minimum of 25,000 population in a 2 mile radius.http://www.popeyesfranchising.com/faqs.php The franchise requirements are based on the accumulated knowledge of the organization on characteristics of successful franchisees.

According to its official website, Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits was named after the character Popeye Doyle (played by Gene Hackman) from the move The French Connection. The brand has been associated with the cartoon Popeye, and has used the Popeye the Sailor cartoon character in marketing materials in the past. The restaurant chain has never had an apostrophe in its name.http://www.popeyes.com/story.php

The menu at Popeyes is centered around chicken. They offer a standard flavor and a spicy option. The chain also offers their signature sides such as red beans & rice, cole slaw, Cajun rice, biscuits, mashed potatoes with cajun gravy and Cajun Battered fries.http://www.popeyes.com/menu.php

Offers include meal deals for one individual that come with sides, a biscuit and a drink as well as family "big deals" that are meant for a group. The restaurant also offers big deal items that are Popeye's equivalent of a value menu.http://www.popeyes.com/menu.php