Popeyes’ wildly popular chicken sandwich boosted sales at the nationwide chain to 42% in the fourth quarter, according to figures released Monday by its owner, Restaurant Brands International.
Sales at all Popeyes restaurants jumped about 42% to $1.3 billion in the last three months of 2019 compared with the same period a year before. At Popeyes restaurants open at least 17 months, sales jumped 34%.
The biggest sales driver was Popeyes’ new chicken sandwich, according to Restaurant Brands International, which also owns Burger King and Tim Hortons.
» ‘The war is real’: Popeyes, Chick-fil-A beef over best chicken sandwich
Popeyes’ chicken sandwich debuted Aug. 12 and was so popular the chain depleted its inventory two weeks later. The brand sparked a debate online about which fast food spot served the best chicken sandwich.
Although Wendy's, Bojangles and Shake Shack entered the battle, the main competition seemed to be between Popeyes and Chick-fil-A, the AJC reported in August.
»MORE: Popeyes chicken sandwich taste test
The sandwich — a buttermilk battered and breaded white meat filet, topped with pickles and a choice of mayo or a spicy Cajun spread and served on a toasted brioche bun — was billed as Popeyes' “biggest product launch in the last 30 years.”
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