Popeyes to begin travel hub rollout after striking deal with SSP Group

Fried chicken quick-service restaurant brand Popeyes has agreed a partnership with travel caterer SSP Group to open a pipeline of sites in UK transport hubs. 

The rollout will begin with the opening of the American fast-food brand at Birmingham Airport this summer. 

The airport branch will offer the full-day menu for dine-in and takeaway, as well as Popeyes’ newly launched breakfast menu. 

Dishes include the Popeyes’ chicken sandwich, hot wings, tenders and chicken wraps. 

Kari Daniels, chief executive of SSP UK & Ireland, said: “As the food travel experts, we’re always working to ensure we meet the evolving needs of customers while offering variety across our portfolio.

“There’s a huge appetite for Popeyes’ tasty menu, so we’re really excited to launch our new partnership together at UK travel hubs, starting with the brand’s inaugural journey into UK airport restaurants at Birmingham Airport.”

Tom Byng, chief development officer at Popeyes UK, added: “Everybody is delighted to be working with SSP to open Popeyes’ first UK airport restaurant.

"This is the first of a number of locations we will open in partnership with SSP, marking a significant milestone for the business as we roll out our ambitious growth plans for 2025, and reflects the continued strength of our customer proposition and brand appeal.”

Popeyes was launched in New Orleans in 1972 and has around 4,000 global restaurants.

 
The brand came to the UK under franchise in 2021 and now has more than 65 sites. It has plans to reach 350 UK branches by 2031.