Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits Continues Global Expansion With Agreements for Restaurant Development in Panama and Iceland (6/00)

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, the world's second-largest quick-service chicken concept, announced the signing of two separate development agreements for the countries of Panama and Iceland that will continue the company's strategy of creating a global presence for the Popeyes brand.

The agreement signed with Ingenieria Y Desarollo Grupo Los Pueblos S.A. calls for the development of eight Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits restaurants throughout the country of Panama over a five year period. The first Popeyes in Panama will open later this year with the development schedule completed by 2004.

In Iceland, Popeyes will open its first Restaurant later this year in Reykjavik with three additional Popeyes restaurants to open throughout the country by 2003.

Popeyes currently operates 250 restaurants outside of the United States in 21 countries including Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Canada. Last month, the company signed a development agreement that calls for the construction of 56 new Popeyes locations in Indonesia over the next five years.

"These agreements are very strategic in that they build on the regional brand awareness that we have created for the Popeyes brand through our international efforts," Anthony Pavese, Chief Operating Officer for Popeyes' International Division, said. "Additionally, the expansion of the brand into these markets provides us with the ability to better leverage our regional service platform so that we can provide world-class support to our new Franchise partners."

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, the world's second-largest chicken chain in terms of sales, is a division of AFC Enterprises and operates the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, Cajun Kitchen and Popeyes Cajun Cafe concepts. Popeyes was recently awarded the Restaurants and Institutions Choice in Chains Gold Award for Customer Service as well as the Nation's Restaurant News Menu Masters Award for its Popeyes Louisiana Legends™ product. Founded in 1972, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits today has more than 1,425 locations in 43 states and 21 countries worldwide and achieved 1999 system-wide sales in excess of $1 billion.

For franchise information visit Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits on BISON.