Burger King parent buys up Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Restaurant Brands International announced that it has acquired Popeyes for $1.8 billion.

Founded in New Orleans in 1972, Popeyes one of the world's largest quick service restaurant chicken concepts with over 2,600 restaurants in the U.S. and 25 other countries around the world.

Following the closing of the transaction, Popeyes will continue to be managed independently in the U.S., while benefitting from the global scale and resources of RBI. Building on the momentum of recent years, RBI plans to continue developing the brand at an increasing pace in the U.S. and international markets in the years to come.

Daniel Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of RBI, said, "Popeyes is a powerful brand with a rich Louisiana heritage that resonates with guests around the world. With this transaction, RBI is adding a brand that has a distinctive position within a compelling segment and strong U.S. and international prospects for growth. As Popeyes becomes part of the RBI family we believe we can deliver growth and opportunities for all of our stakeholders including our valued employees and franchisees. We look forward to taking an already very strong brand and accelerating its pace of growth and opening new restaurants in the U.S. and around the world."

Cheryl Bachelder, Chief Executive Officer of Popeyes, said, "I am proud of the superior results the Popeyes team has delivered in recent years; they have served all stakeholders well. As Popeyes enters its 45th year, its success reflects the amazing brand entrusted to us by founder Al Copeland, Sr. and the unique high trust partnership that we enjoy with our franchise owners. RBI has observed our success and seen the opportunity for exceptional future unit growth in the U.S. and around the world. The result is a transaction that delivers immediate and certain value to the Popeyes shareholders."

Photo credit: Popeyes Facebook page