Travellers on Irish motorways are not blessed with good culinary options. If they have not made their own meal, they will often have to resort to the “plaza” or garage option of fast food junk. Seamus Stapleton, managing director of Applegreen’s Republic of Ireland business, reacted to the recent announcement of Applegreen’s new partnership with the US chicken fast food giant Popeyes: “We are delighted to add Popeyes to our growing portfolio of high-quality brands in the Irish market.” Even more enthusiastic is Tom Byng, Popeye’s UK and Ireland chief development officer: “The partnership will allow us to reach more consumers on the move and marks an exciting milestone in our journey to bring our much-loved shatter crunchin’ chicken to Irish customers.”

Popeyes was established by Al Copeland in 1972 in a New Orleans suburb; its spicy chicken and Cajun-style offerings distinguished it from its competitors, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Church’s Chicken. Copeland, who grew up in poverty, had started the previous year with a fried chicken stand carrying the slogan “So fast you get your chicken before you get your change.” Popeyes began contracting franchises in 1976; by the end of the 1980s Copeland owned or franchised more than 800 of the restaurants. Today, Popeyes has more than 5,000 restaurants in 50 countries worldwide, with annual sales of $8 billion. The first Irish outlet was opened in........

© The Irish Times