Beyoncé Gets Popeyes for Life — and Other Surprising Facts About the Chicken Chain

Known for its crispy, flavorful, and affordable meals — and that unforgettable jingle — Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has built a loyal customer guidelines for deacades. The brand, which has soared to nan 3rd spot connected nan 2024 Franchise 500 Ranking, besides claims nan title of nan top-ranked chicken franchise.

With complete 4,000 locations worldwide, Popeyes has go a destination for fans of its New Orleans-style fried chicken. From its humble beginnings to becoming a world phenomenon, Popeyes has a rich | history filled pinch invention that has group it isolated successful nan competitory fast-food industry. But beyond nan food, Popeyes has besides made important strides successful organization engagement and firm responsibility.

Do you deliberation you cognize everything astir nan iconic chickenhearted marque pinch nan iconic jingle? Dive into these 10 intriguing facts astir Popeyes that mightiness astonishment you — and deepen your appreciation for this fast-food powerhouse.

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1. Popeyes is named aft Popeye Doyle.

Many group mightiness subordinate nan sanction "Popeyes" pinch nan animation sailor who eats spinach, but laminitis Al Copeland really named his edifice aft Popeye Doyle, nan tough, no-nonsense constabulary detective played by Gene Hackman successful nan 1971 movie "The French Connection." This spot of trivia often surprises those who presume nan sanction comes from nan celebrated animated character.

2. Yes, Popeyes should person an apostrophe.

For nan sticklers retired location who for illustration to constituent retired everyone's grammar mistakes, Popeyes whitethorn thrust you wild. The correct spelling should beryllium "Popeye's", but astatine nan clip of creating nan brand, Al Copeland said he could not spend nan apostrophe.

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3. Beyonce has free Popeyes for life.

Beyoncé has expressed her emotion for Popeyes connected respective occasions. She reportedly had Popeyes astatine her wedding and mentioned successful an question and reply pinch Oprah Winfrey that she has a "free-Popeyes-for-life card" card.

4. The chickenhearted herb look costs $43 million.

The Copeland family, who founded Popeyes, retained nan authorities to nan celebrated Popeyes chickenhearted look for galore years. Popeyes paid royalties to nan Copeland family for nan usage of this recipe. In 2014, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. purchased nan authorities to nan recipe for $43 million. However, nan Copeland family continued to ain nan authorities to nan proprietary herb blend utilized successful nan chicken. This acquisition allowed Popeyes to person greater power complete its signature look while still maintaining nan unsocial flavors that separate its food.

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5. The chickenhearted sandwich took 2 years to create.

Popeyes group retired to make a chickenhearted sandwich (to compete pinch you cognize who), and nan improvement process progressive countless workshops and sensation tests complete nan people of much than 2 years. The effort culminated successful nan motorboat of nan Popeyes chickenhearted sandwich successful August 2019.

6. The chickenhearted sandwich sold retired successful 2 weeks.

The August 2019 motorboat was accompanied by a beardown societal media campaign, which led to an overwhelming demand. Due to nan immense popularity, Popeyes completely sold out of nan sandwich by August 27, 2019, conscionable 2 weeks aft its launch. The sandwich was relaunched connected November 2, 2019, pinch moreover much excitement and demand.

7. Popeyes gives backmost pinch Food Love Grants.

Popeyes places a beardown accent connected giving backmost to nan community, and nan Popeyes Food Love Grants program is simply a cardinal portion of this commitment. The programme focuses connected awarding grants to nonprofits that service nutrient to those successful request wrong section communities, specified arsenic schoolhouse repast programs and earthy disaster responses. In 2023, much than 60 section nonprofits received grants done this program, highlighting Popeyes' dedication to supporting and uplifting communities.

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8. Success came pinch spicy chicken.

Al Copeland's first chickenhearted edifice was really named Chicken connected nan Run, and he served traditional, non-spicy Southern chicken. Unfortunately, nan edifice was not excessively successful, and Copeland rebranded to Popeyes. He besides rebranded his chickenhearted and added a Cajun kick, aft which he started to spot overmuch much success.

9. Dr. John created nan jingle.

Dr. John was a New Orleans musician who amassed six Grammy's and a spot successful nan Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He is credited pinch writing and performing nan "Love that Chicken" jingle successful 1980, which tin still beryllium heard connected Popeyes commercials today.

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10. The chickenhearted sandwich is simply a large deed pinch nan military

Popeyes has locations connected various subject installations astir nan world, including successful places for illustration Japan, Germany, and Guam. These locations besides participated successful nan excitement of nan Popeyes chickenhearted sandwich craze successful 2019 — moreover prompting nan Military Times to joke that nan wildly celebrated sandwich was "Hurting Military Readiness."