Have you ever bitten into that perfectly crispy, spicy Popeyes chicken and wondered who came up with this magical recipe? Well I’ve been wondering the same thing so I did some digging into the origins of this iconic fast-food chain. The story behind Popeyes is as flavorful as their famous chicken!
The Man Behind the Chicken: Alvin C. Copeland Sr.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen was founded by Alvin Charles “Big Al” Copeland Sr. in 1972. Born on February 2, 1944, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Copeland had humble beginnings that eventually led to fried chicken fame
What’s really interesting is that Copeland didn’t actually start with “Popeyes” right away. His first restaurant was called “Chicken on the Run” and was located in the New Orleans suburb of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish. The original restaurant struggled to attract customers with its traditional Southern-fried chicken menu.
But Copeland wasn’t one to give up easily! After the initial struggles, he went back to the drawing board and created something that would change fast-food history.
From Failure to Finger-Lickin’ Success
Copeland was determined to succeed. Inspired by the rich flavors of Cajun and Creole cuisine from his Louisiana roots, he developed a spicier chicken recipe that gave customers a kick of heat.
He reopened his restaurant with a new name: “Popeyes”. And no, it wasn’t named after the cartoon sailor! Copeland named his restaurant after the character Popeye Doyle from the 1971 film “The French Connection,” played by Gene Hackman.
The new spicy chicken recipe was an immediate hit with locals, and Popeyes began its journey to becoming the global chicken powerhouse we know today.
Copeland’s Early Life: Hustle and Determination
Before he became the chicken king, Copeland’s life was far from easy:
- He grew up in the St. Thomas public housing project in New Orleans
- His father left the family shortly after Alvin was born
- He dropped out of high school at age 16
- He worked as a soda jerk at Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets in Gentilly
- He later worked for Tastee Donut, a donut chain partially owned by his brother, Gil
At just 18 years old, Copeland sold his car to purchase one donut location from his brother. This early experience with the restaurant business and franchising would later prove invaluable when he started Popeyes.
The Growth of a Chicken Empire
After the initial success of his spicy chicken, Copeland began to expand the Popeyes brand:
- 1976: Opened the first franchise location in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- 1980: Introduced the famous “Love That Chicken” slogan and jingle
- 1983: Added buttermilk biscuits to the menu (which quickly became almost as popular as the chicken)
- 1984: Expanded internationally with the first location in Toronto, Canada
- 1985: Opened the 500th restaurant, making Popeyes the third-largest chicken chain
By the late 1980s, Copeland’s chicken empire was growing rapidly. In March 1989, Popeyes purchased Church’s Chicken, making the combined company a major player in the fast-food industry with over 2,000 locations.
The Bankruptcy and Comeback
Despite the rapid growth, Copeland’s empire faced serious financial troubles. The acquisition of Church’s Chicken was heavily financed, and by 1990, Al Copeland Enterprises had accumulated about $391 million in debt.
In April 1991, Copeland filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The following year, the bankruptcy court approved a plan submitted by Copeland’s creditors that created America’s Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. (AFC) as the new parent company for both Popeyes and Church’s.
While Copeland lost ownership of Popeyes in the bankruptcy, he managed to retain the rights to some recipes and products. His company, Diversified Foods & Seasonings, continued to manufacture the spices used by Popeyes through plants in various locations, with a contract extending through 2029.
Beyond Fried Chicken: Copeland’s Other Ventures
Copeland was more than just the founder of Popeyes. He was a true entrepreneur who owned:
- Several restaurant chains including Copeland’s, Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro, and others
- The Improv comedy clubs in California and Pittsburgh
- Three hotels
- A successful food manufacturing business
He also became known for his flamboyant lifestyle, power boat racing teams, and especially his elaborate annual Christmas light display at his mansion in Metairie, which became a local attraction.
Copeland’s Legacy and Final Years
Despite his business setbacks, Copeland remained a significant figure in New Orleans. He was both admired and sometimes criticized for his bold, over-the-top style.
In December 2007, Copeland was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. After seeking experimental treatments in Germany, he passed away in Munich on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, at the age of 64.
Following his death, the Al Copeland Foundation was established to provide cancer services, primarily at Louisiana State University. The foundation established the Al Copeland/Cancer Crusaders Endowed chair in Endocrine Cancer at LSU in 2011.
Who Owns Popeyes Today?
While Al Copeland founded Popeyes, the ownership has changed hands over the years:
- 1991-2017: After the bankruptcy reorganization, Popeyes operated under America’s Favorite Chicken Company (AFC), which later became Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc.
- March 2017: Restaurant Brands International (RBI) acquired Popeyes for $1.8 billion
- Present: Popeyes remains a wholly owned subsidiary of RBI, which also owns Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Firehouse Subs
As of 2025, Jeff Klein serves as the President of Popeyes U.S. and Canada, having taken over from Sami Siddiqui in March 2024.
The Growth Continues
From its humble beginnings in 1972, Popeyes has grown into a global powerhouse:
- 1972: 1 location in Arabi, Louisiana
- 1985: 500 restaurants
- 2014: 2,000 restaurants
- 2025: Over 4,300 restaurants in more than 30 countries
The company’s estimated net worth has also skyrocketed over the years:
| Year | Estimated Net Worth (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $1.1 billion |
| 2017 | $1.8 billion (acquisition price) |
| 2020 | $2.4 billion |
| 2023 | $3.2 billion |
| 2025 | $4.0 billion (est.) |
Why Popeyes Has Remained Successful
Popeyes has stayed true to Copeland’s original vision of serving authentic Louisiana-style flavors. The recipe that Copeland created back in the early 1970s continues to be the foundation of the brand’s success, with that distinctive spicy kick that sets it apart from competitors.
The chicken sandwich introduced in 2019 became a cultural phenomenon and significantly boosted the brand’s popularity and sales, showing that innovation built on the original flavors can create even more success.
Final Thoughts
The story of Popeyes is really the story of Al Copeland – a high school dropout from humble beginnings who transformed a failing chicken restaurant into an international sensation through determination, creativity, and a willingness to embrace bold flavors.
Even though he lost control of his company in the bankruptcy, his legacy lives on through the recipes and the brand he created. Today, whenever someone bites into that spicy, crispy Popeyes chicken, they’re tasting a piece of Copeland’s vision that started over 50 years ago in a small suburb of New Orleans.
So next time you’re enjoying that famous chicken, give a little mental thanks to Big Al Copeland – the man who wasn’t afraid to add a little spice to the fast-food world!
What’s your favorite item on the Popeyes menu? I’m torn between the classic spicy chicken and those heavenly buttermilk biscuits! Drop a comment below with your go-to Popeyes order.
Popeyes Fried Chicken Expands
Popeyes was expanding regionally, nationally, and internationally throughout the 1980s, and it was a time of innovation and experimentation for the brand. The slogan “Love that Chicken” was created in 1980, the buttermilk biscuits were introduced in 1983, and crawfish were available on the menu for a time in 1989. By 1985, there were 500 Popeyes locations including Canada. Al Copeland founded Al Copeland Enterprises during this period to house Popeyes as well as his other new chains including Copelands Restaurant which began in 1983. He also founded Diversified Food & Seasonings in 1984, which supplied Popeyes with proprietary products and seasonings for their restaurants.
As exciting as the 1980s were for Popeyes, however, the 1990s would usher in massive changes.
In 1990, Copeland Enterprises was in default due the purchase of Churchs Chicken in 1989 for the sum of $392 million. The entity filed for bankruptcy in 1991. A year later, the court agreed to the formation of Americas Favorite Chicken, Inc. (AFC) which would be the new parent company of both Popeyes and Churchs, and AFC would be owned by the creditors from whom Al lent money. Though Al no longer owned Popeyes, he retained some control due to a deal in which his company Diversified Foods & Seasonings was the supplier of all Popeyes restaurants, and Popeyes was obligated to pay fees totaling several million dollars each year to use Als patented spice blends and food preparation techniques.
Under the ownership of AFC, Popeyes expanded bigger than ever. The chain spread to places like Malaysia and Australia to great success. In 1999, Popeyes celebrated making over $1 billion in annual sales. AFC went public in 2001 with an initial public offering of $142,818,479. Popeyes once again changed its name and rebranded as Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in 2008.
The 2010s were very exciting years for the Popeyes empire. The restaurant chain finally acquired control over its recipes from Diversified Foods & Seasonings on June 17, 2014 for the price of $43 million. Then, Popeyes was purchased by Restaurant Brands International on February 21, 2017 for $1.8 billion.
Popeyes Fried Chicken’s Origin Story
Popeyes was conceived by the late eccentric and genius businessman Al Copeland. Al worked at several now-iconic local food brands as a young man. He left school at the age of 16 and worked at Schwegmanns Grocery in Gentilly and at Tastee Donut, which Als brother Gil partially owned. At the age of 18, Al sold his car to purchase a Tastee Donut from Gil, and it was there that he learned how to manage a food service business.
In his late 20s, Al decided to open a new restaurant that would serve traditional southern fried chicken. He opened Chicken on the Run in Arabi on June 12, 1972, but it closed down after just a few months. Four days later, the restaurant reopened with the new name and a new style of fried chicken. Popeyes Mighty Good Chicken, named after Popeye Doyle of The French Connection, served a spicier fried chicken that was a huge hit with customers. By 1975, the restaurant changed its name to Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken.
Al knew that he had a business model and recipes that could be very successful, so he quickly started franchising Popeyes. The first franchise opened in Baton Rouge in 1976.
You may remember Popeyes being synonymous with Popeye the Sailor. Though it wasnt named for the beloved cartoon character, Popeyes obtained the rights from King Features Syndicate to use the characters from the show for their marketing, decoration, and packaging for 35 years. The fledgling chain also sponsored Popeye & Pals cartoons on local television.
The menu in the early days looked very different than it does today. You could get buckets of fried chicken, but the dinners you could order included clams and livers and gizzards. The dinners were served with your choice of rice dressing and a roll or French fries and a roll. The side orders included bar-b-que beans, onion rings, chicken tacos, corn dogs, and corn on the cob. A 10-piece bucket cost $4.49. A 3-piece dinner that came with either rice dressing or French fries and a roll would be about $1.69. All of the side items cost less than 60 cents for an individual serving.
The Mysterious Origin of Popeyes
FAQ
Who originally owned Popeyes?
It first opened its doors on June 12, 1972, as “Chicken on the Run”. Owner Al Copeland (1944–2008) wanted to compete with Kentucky Fried Chicken, but his restaurant failed after several months. Copeland reopened the restaurant four days later as Popeyes Mighty Good Chicken.
What rapper owns Popeyes?
Megan Thee Stallion, the Grammy-winning rapper, is set to open her own Popeyes franchise, following in the footsteps of Rick Ross.
Who is the owner of Popeyes Chicken?
How did Al Copeland lose Popeyes?
Popeyes became the third most popular chicken restaurant in the country. But Copeland took on too much when he bought out Church’s Chicken. The move eventually put Copeland into bankruptcy. Although Copeland retained the recipe to the chicken, he lost Popeye’s to creditors in 1992.