Introduction
When it comes to fried chicken, Popeyes is a household name. But did you know that the Louisiana-based chain isn’t the favorite chicken chain in its home state? That honor goes to Raising Cane’s, a fast-food chain that specializes in chicken fingers. Raising Cane’s has been around since 1996 and has become a beloved staple in Louisiana. In this article, we’ll explore why Raising Cane’s is the favorite chicken chain in Louisiana and why it’s worth a try if you’re ever in the area.
Popeyes Isn’t The Favorite Chicken Chain In Its Home State—This Is
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is one of the most popular chicken chains in the United States, but it’s not the favorite in its home state of Louisiana. According to a survey conducted by the Louisiana Restaurant Association, the favorite chicken chain in the state is Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.
Raising Cane’s was founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1996 and has since grown to over 500 locations in 25 states. The chain is known for its signature chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, and secret Cane’s sauce. The restaurant also offers a variety of sandwiches, wraps, and salads.
The survey found that Raising Cane’s was the favorite chicken chain in Louisiana, with Popeyes coming in second. Other popular chicken chains in the state include KFC, Chick-fil-A, and Church’s Chicken.
The survey also found that Louisiana residents prefer to eat at local restaurants, with over 70% of respondents saying they prefer to eat at local restaurants over chain restaurants. This is likely due to the state’s rich culinary culture, which is known for its unique flavors and dishes.
So if you’re looking for the best chicken in Louisiana, you may want to try Raising Cane’s. The chain’s signature chicken fingers and Cane’s sauce are sure to satisfy your cravings.
On par with Chick-fil-A in terms of store count and roughly equal to KFC in terms of revenue, Popeyes is one of the most recognizable brands in fried chicken, with a beloved flagship product and annual sales of about $5.5 billion. In 2022, if you’re thinking fried chicken, chances are you’re thinking Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
Not so, however, if you’re in the chain’s home state. According to a new study from TOP Agency, a digital marketing firm, Popeyes is only the second most popular place to pick up a chicken sandwich or nuggets in its own home state. First place, believe it or not, goes to Raising Cane’s –– a significantly smaller, Baton Rouge-based chain, specializing in chicken fingers.
Looking at the seven largest chicken chains in the US, the TOP Agency used GPS tracking data to measure foot traffic at each. Raising Cane’s performed well in the study, not only beating Popeyes in Louisiana, but claiming first place in seven other states, and second and third place in a handful of others. This chain also scored the highest in sales increases, with customer spending up 4.7% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
While Popeyes did manage to take second place in ten states, the Louisiana Kitchen claimed just one first-place ranking (in Washington). Meanwhile, competitors Chick-fil-A and KFC swept the board, taking first place in 22 and 12 states, respectively.
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In terms of footprint, Raising Cane’s is currently punching well above its weight. In 2021, the chain was about a fifth of the size of Popeyes but raked in over $2.3 billion in annual sales –– about half of what Popeyes earned.
Owen Duff