Introduction
Popeyes U.K. is about to make a major change to its business model. The popular fast-food chain is set to open its first drive-thru locations in the United Kingdom. This move is sure to be a hit with customers, as it will make it easier and more convenient to get their favorite Popeyes meals. The drive-thrus will offer the same menu items as the regular restaurants, including the popular chicken sandwiches, tenders, and sides. Customers will also be able to order online and pick up their orders at the drive-thru window. This is sure to be a welcome addition to the Popeyes U.K. family.
Popeyes U.K. Will Soon Have Drive-Thrus
Popeyes, the popular American fast-food chain, is expanding its presence in the United Kingdom. The company recently announced that it will be opening drive-thrus at select locations in the U.K. in the near future.
The move is part of Popeyes’ larger expansion plans in the U.K. The company has already opened several locations in the country, and is planning to open more in the coming months. The drive-thrus will be located in major cities such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Popeyes is known for its signature fried chicken, which is made with a unique blend of spices and herbs. The chain also offers a variety of other menu items, including sandwiches, wraps, and sides. The drive-thrus will offer the same menu items as the regular locations, but customers will be able to order and pick up their food without having to leave their cars.
The drive-thrus are expected to be a hit with customers, as they will provide a convenient way to get their favorite Popeyes food. The company is also hoping that the drive-thrus will help to increase its presence in the U.K. and attract more customers.
Popeyes is not the only fast-food chain to open drive-thrus in the U.K. McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC all have drive-thrus in the country. However, Popeyes is the first to open drive-thrus in major cities.
Popeyes’ drive-thrus are expected to open in the coming months. The company has not yet announced an exact date, but it is likely to be soon. Customers in the U.K. can look forward to getting their favorite Popeyes food without having to leave their cars.
Few fast food chains are experiencing the growth Popeyes has enjoyed in the past four years. Since the viral popularity of its chicken sandwich in 2019, the brand has only increased its visibility, opening 200 new locations globally in 2021 alone despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Riding this wave of customer recognition, Popeyes opened its first locations in the United Kingdom last year, where it has received universally positive feedback from customers excited to get a taste of the edible Americana. Buzzfeed UK writer Victor Kunda, for example, appeared to have a religious experience trying the sandwich in his video “I Eat Everything At Popeyes,” emotionally describing it as doing “exactly what [it needs] to do” while music right out of a romantic drama swells in the background.
British customers are so excited about Popeyes that the company plans to open 20 more restaurants there by the end of 2023, bringing the total number of U.K. restaurants to 31. That’s a remarkably quick expansion! And according to Tom Crowley, CEO of Popeyes UK, the hype is only continuing to build.
“There is a pattern emerging now at all our openings with people queuing through the night to be the first in line on opening day.”
Popeyes plans to open locations in Cambridge, Croydon, and Reading in early 2023 and will open storefronts in Rotherham, Cardiff, and Glasgow later in the year. The company will also operate new ghost kitchens in Brent Cross and Dulwich, adding to its four existing kitchens in Maida Vale, Whitechapel, Bermondsey, and Battersea.
If that wasn’t enough, the chain has just announced that it will open its first U.K. drive-thru next year. It will likely be located at Parkgate Shopping park in Rotherham, with plans for more.
Crowley went on to say that, “Consumer demand has been high for a drive-thru since we landed in the UK, so it feels like a real milestone for us.”
“We’ve carefully planned our site acquisition strategy in line with where we’re seeing most demand from our customers, and it’s great to see it coming to life.”
Lizzy Saxe