Popeyes® accelerates growth in Mexico through strategic local partnerships

Rhea-AI Summary

Popeyes (NYSE:QSR) has announced major expansion plans in Mexico through new development agreements with regional franchisees. The company plans to open more than 300 new restaurants over the next 10 years across Mexico's Northwest, West, Central, and Southeast regions.

The expansion will be executed through partnerships with four franchisee groups: Star Louisiana (West region), Border Crunch (Northwest region), Grupo Euro (Central region), and Grupo Berny (Southeast region). The initiative is expected to create thousands of new local jobs and introduce Popeyes' signature products, including their famous chicken sandwich, to new Mexican markets.

This expansion is part of Popeyes' broader international growth strategy, following recent openings in Costa Rica, Italy, and the Balkans. The brand currently operates in more than 45 countries worldwide.

Positive

• Strategic expansion of 300+ new restaurants in Mexico over 10 years
• Partnership with four experienced regional franchisees for rapid scaling
• Expected creation of thousands of new local jobs
• Entry into one of Latin America's fastest-growing QSR markets

Negative

• None.

Insights

Restaurant Industry Analyst

Popeyes' 300-restaurant Mexican expansion represents significant long-term growth potential in a key Latin American market through strategic franchise partnerships.

This strategic expansion into Mexico represents a significant growth vector for Popeyes and parent company Restaurant Brands International. The planned 300+ new locations over the next decade in Mexico's Northwest, West, Central, and Southeast regions signals a serious commitment to Latin American growth beyond their existing international presence.

The company has wisely structured this expansion through regional franchise partnerships with established operators who bring local market expertise - a crucial success factor in international QSR expansion. This franchise-driven approach allows Popeyes to scale rapidly while minimizing direct capital expenditure, optimizing return on invested capital for RBI.

Mexico represents an attractive QSR market with favorable demographics, including a growing middle class and increased urbanization that typically drives quick-service dining. The $11+ billion Mexican fast-food market has shown resilience and growth potential, with chicken concepts performing particularly well due to protein preferences in the region.

For context, this expansion would increase Popeyes' global footprint by approximately 10% based on their current restaurant count, making this a material growth initiative. The multi-year rollout suggests approximately 30 new locations annually, creating a steady pipeline of new unit openings that will contribute incrementally to RBI's overall system sales growth without overwhelming operational capacity.

While the announcement doesn't provide specific revenue projections, this expansion aligns with RBI's stated strategy of accelerating international growth across its portfolio brands, particularly following their success with the chicken sandwich platform that reinvigorated the Popeyes brand domestically.

Plans to open more than 300 new restaurants over the next 10 years

MIAMI, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Popeyes®, one of the world's fastest-growing chicken quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands, today announced new development agreements with regional franchisees in Mexico. These partnerships mark a significant milestone in its expansion strategy and represent a committed pipeline of over 300 Popeyes restaurants in the next 10 years across the Northwest, West, Central, and Southeast regions in Mexico.

This landmark growth strategy demonstrates the brand's commitment to delivering its bold, Louisiana flavors to one of Latin America's most dynamic and fast-growing QSR markets. RBI believes each franchise group brings deep expertise in the foodservice operations, strong local market knowledge, and the ability to scale rapidly.

• Star Louisiana, a long-standing Popeyes developer, is renewing its commitment to develop the brand in Jalisco in the West region
• Border Crunch will lead the expansion in the Northwest region
• Grupo Euro will drive development across the Central region
• Grupo Berny will oversee growth in the Southeast region

"Mexico represents a tremendous growth opportunity for Popeyes, and we're thrilled to be partnering with experienced and passionate franchisees who share our vision," said Duncan Montero, LAC President of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), parent company of Popeyes.

"Our unique New Orleans-style menu, including Popeyes famous chicken – freshly prepared, marinated for at least 12 hours, battered, and breaded by hand with our seasonings, and slow cooked to perfection – resonates deeply with guests. We're confident in our ability to win in Mexico over the long term."

The expansion is expected to create thousands of new local jobs and introduce the signature Popeyes Chicken Sandwich, which has become a global sensation, to new guests in Mexico.

This announcement builds on Popeyes international growth momentum, following recent openings in several markets such as Costa Rica, Italy and the Balkans. Today, Popeyes is proudly serving guests in more than 45 countries around the world.

About Popeyes®

Founded in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA in 1972, Popeyes® has more than 50 years of history and culinary tradition. Popeyes® distinguishes itself with a unique Louisiana style Cajun menu featuring spicy chicken, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and other regional items. The chain's passion for its Louisiana heritage and flavorful authentic Cajun food has allowed Popeyes® to become one of the world's largest chicken quick service restaurants with over 5,000 restaurants in the U.S. and around the world. Popeyes is part of Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI"), one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with over $45 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 32,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands – BURGER KING®, TIM HORTONS®, POPEYES®, and FIREHOUSE SUBS®. To learn more about the Popeyes® brand, please visit www.popeyes.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Contacts

For franchisee development in Mexico's North region and for investor inquiries in Latin America, please contact Gabriel Oliveira, Sr. Director of Development & Franchising, LAC, at goliveira@rbi.com.

For Media inquiries, please contact media@popeyes.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which reflect management's current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, initiatives and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about our expectations regarding the ability of the Popeyes business in Mexico to open more than 300 restaurants in 10 years and create thousands of jobs as well as the ability of regional franchisees to expand rapidly. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RBI's expectations are detailed in filings of RBI with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, such as its annual and quarterly reports and current reports on Form 8-K and include the following risks: risk related to our ability to successfully implement its domestic and international growth strategy and risks related to its international operations; risks related to our ability to compete domestically and internationally in an intensely competitive industry; global economic or other business conditions that may affect the desire or ability of our customers to purchase our products; our relationship with, and the success of, our franchisees and risks related to our mostly franchised business model; and the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs and franchisee support of these programs. Other than as required under applicable laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, change in expectations or otherwise.

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SOURCE Restaurant Brands International Inc.

FAQ

How many new Popeyes restaurants will open in Mexico?

Popeyes plans to open more than 300 new restaurants in Mexico over the next 10 years.

Which regions in Mexico will get new Popeyes locations?

The expansion covers four regions: the Northwest, West, Central, and Southeast regions of Mexico.

Who are the franchise partners for Popeyes Mexico expansion?

The franchise partners are Star Louisiana (West), Border Crunch (Northwest), Grupo Euro (Central), and Grupo Berny (Southeast).

How many countries does Popeyes currently operate in?

Popeyes currently operates in more than 45 countries worldwide.

What impact will Popeyes expansion have on employment in Mexico?

The expansion is expected to create thousands of new local jobs in Mexico.