Restaurant Brands International’s Popeyes quick service restaurant (QSR) chain and a wholly owned subsidiary of Silla Co., Ltd. have entered into an exclusive master franchise and development deal to open hundreds of Popeyes outlets across South Korea in the coming years.
“We are thrilled to launch Popeyes with the Silla Group subsidiary, and are pleased to announce exciting plans to bring our iconic Louisiana-style chicken to one of the largest chicken QSR markets in the world,” said David Shear, president pf Toronto, Canada-headquartered RBI International. “Our entry illustrates a commitment to serving more guests around the world and the execution of our growth plans for the Asia Pacific region.”
Founded in New Orleans in 1972, Popeyes has 50 years of history and culinary tradition. The chain distinguishes itself with a New Orleans style menu featuring spicy chicken meals, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, fried shrimp and other regional items. Popeyes uses proprietary seasonings and techniques developed by an in-house culinary team of chefs that makes its fried chicken a point of reference for Michelin Chefs and celebrities.
The brand’s passion for its Louisiana heritage and flavorful authentic food has allowed Popeyes to rank among the world’s largest chicken quick service restaurant operators with over 3,600 units in over 25 countries around the world.
“Chicken is one of the largest and fastest growing categories in the South Korean QSR segment. We are proud to bring the famous Popeyes brand to South Korea and we believe that our guests will love Popeyes’ iconic Chicken Sandwich,” said MoonKyung Lee, senior managing director of Silla Group’s F&B Division. “Popeyes is expected to become one of the key drivers of growth for us. It will also contribute significantly to the economy by creating hundreds of new jobs over the coming years.”
The Silla Group subsidiary’s first Popeyes restaurant in South Korea is scheduled to open later this year. In 2021, the chain opened its first restaurant in the United Kingdom and announced plans to set up shop in Romania, France, India, and to expand in Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Other international expansions over the past years include Spain, Switzerland, China, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.
About RBI and Silla
Popeyes parent Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant companies with more than $35 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 28,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. Among RBI’s holdings in addition to Popeyes are Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Firehouse Subs.
The Silla Group was founded in 1967 and is one of South Korea’s most well-respected conglomerates. Headquartered in Seoul, it operates across a number of verticals in South Korea and globally including restaurants, seafood distribution entrperises, deep sea fishing, agriculture, and industrial manufacturing.
