ATLANTA, Feb. 10, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Popeyes(r) Chicken & Biscuits, a division of AFC Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFCE) and the world's second-largest quick-service chicken concept, is introducing its freshly prepared spicy chicken breast strips as a permanent Popeyes menu item. The spicy strips are just the first of many new and flavorful items that Popeyes will be introducing this year.
"We always want to provide our customers with flavor options at Popeyes," says Joe Scafido, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits Chief Menu & Marketing Officer. "We know our customers love our chicken breast strips as displayed by the significant increase of pounds of strips shipped to our distributors in just the first five weeks of the year. We are again giving customers what they want by adding the spicy strips permanently to the menu. Now they can experience the same spicy flavor in our chicken strips as they've enjoyed for years in our bone-in chicken."
Four years ago, Popeyes anticipated the demand for boneless chicken strips and introduced mild chicken strips to its everyday menu. Our boneless chicken category sales have more than tripled since that launch.
"Popeyes got its start in Louisiana, a state known for its flavorful food," said Scafido. "Spicing up our chicken strips is just one more way that we can take pride in our heritage and share it with our customers!"
The new freshly prepared spicy chicken strips are as juicy and tender as Classic Mild, but a notch higher on the spice meter. For a limited time introductory offer, customers can purchase two strips (either mild or spicy) and a biscuit starting at $1.99. Chicken breast strips will also be sold as three-piece dinners and combo meals.
Popeyes is a leader in the Cajun segment of the foodservice industry and is the world's second-largest quick-service chicken concept. Founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Popeyes has more than 1,672 locations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 21 other countries and achieved 2001 worldwide sales of approximately $1.3 billion. Visit Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' website at www.popeyes.com.
AFC Enterprises, Inc. is the franchisor and operator of 4,072 restaurants, bakeries and cafes in the United States, Puerto Rico and 33 foreign countries under the brand names Popeyes(r) Chicken & Biscuits, Church's Chicken(tm), Cinnabon(r), Seattle's Best Coffee(r) and Torrefazione Italia(r) Coffee. AFC's primary objective is to be the world's Franchisor of Choice(r) by offering investment opportunities in highly recognizable brands and exceptional franchisee support systems and services. AFC Enterprises(r) had system-wide sales of approximately $2.6 billion in 2001 and can be found on the World Wide Web at www.afce.com.