Popeyes targets 20 new openings in 2023
The US fried chicken giant has steadily grown its estate since entering the UK market in November last year, and is set to have a total of 11 locations by the end of the year with sites in Liverpool, Brighton and Leicester all expected to launch within the next month or so.
Further openings are scheduled for 2023 with Popeyes confirming it will launch sites in Cambridge, Croydon and Reading in the early months of next year. Sites in Cardiff and Glasgow are also planned, as well as the group's first drive-thru location in the UK, which is expected to launch in Rotherham at Parkgate Shopping Park.
“Consumer demand has been high for a drive-thru ever since we landed in the UK, so it feels like a real milestone for us,” says Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes UK, who adds that the group will be opening a raft of drive-thru locations next year.
Popeyes most recently launched sites in Ealing, Oxford, Nottingham and Derby. It will also open two new delivery-only kitchens, in Brent Cross and Dulwich later this month.
By the end of 2023, the group expects to have 31 UK restaurant sites in total.
“We’ve carefully planned our site acquisition strategy in line with where we’re seeing most demand from our customers, and it’s great to see it coming to life,” continues Crowley.
“We’re working at pace currently on opening our Liverpool, Brighton and Leicester branches before the end of the year – but we always have one eye on the future and are looking forward to continuing sharing our expansion plans.”
Popeyes had previously said it is aiming to open 350 sites across the country within 10 years.
The UK represents the 11th new market for Popeyes across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where the chain has already opened hundreds of new sites as part of its global expansion.
