Burger King Buys Atlanta-Based Popeyes For $1.8B

ATLANTA, GA -- Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International is buying Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for $1.8 billion, the company announced Tuesday.

"Popeyes is a powerful brand with a rich Louisiana heritage that resonates with guests around the world," Restaurant Brands International CEO Daniel Schwartz said in a statement.

Popeyes was founded in New Orleans in 1972 by restaurateur Al Copeland. Twenty years later, the eatery was acquired by America's Favorite Chicken Company, known as AFC Enterprises, and moved to Atlanta.

Meanwhile Copeland would go on to build for his Cajun-inspired Copeland's Restaurants around the South.

"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," Cheryl Bachelder, Popeyes CEO, was quoted as saying.

Popeyes most recently made headlines around the Super Bowl when an ad spot showing NFL great Jerry Rice with a fried-chicken helmet caused a stir online.

In addition to Burger King, RBI owns the Horton's brand as well. Today Popeyes has more than 2,600 restaurants in the U.S. and 25 other countries around the world.

Image via Wikimedia / public domain