The famous American chicken sandwich specialist will launch at Westfield Stratford City, London in November.
Following the announcement earlier in the year that Popeyes plans to open locations in the U.K., the brand is able to confirm that it will launch during November at Westfield Stratford City in London, Europe’s largest shopping mall.
The restaurant brand is expected to announce more sites soon, and follows on from the appointment of Tom Byng as the chief development officer who has kickstarted Popeyes U.K. expansion.
Popeyes will be taking on a 1,531 sq. ft unit at Westfield, which was formerly occupied by KFC.
“It’s fantastic to be opening our first U.K. location, following the months of anticipation and buzz that the news of our arrival generated,” said Tom Crowley, CEO of Popeyes U.K.
“Our vision for our U.K. launch is ambitious and bold, and we felt a shared sense of purpose with Westfield Stratford City when we were on the hunt for our first restaurant. We are confident that they are the perfect partner to help us kick-start our entry into the U.K. market.
“All our locations will be carefully chosen, in communities that echo the Louisianan spirit synonymous with Popeyes. We’re looking forward to unveiling our next sites in due course, and revealing more about our expansion into new locations in 2022 and beyond.”
“We’re delighted that Popeyes will be opening its first U.K. store at Westfield Stratford City. Chicken is beloved across all ages and we’re sure that it will be another destination where families, friends, and groups can enjoy delicious meals,” said Katie Orwin, leasing director U.K., Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.
“Westfield centres continue to attract the best and most exciting brands that our customers want, and Popeyes will be another incredible addition to our diverse food and drink offering at the centre.”
“The pandemic has accelerated changing consumer habits, and this has closely informed our U.K. real estate strategy,” said Byng.
“Experiential retail and customer convenience will be key to the recovery of bricks and mortar post-COVID, which is why we’re making in-store experiences and drive-throughs a central part of our U.K. rollout. This will be further enhanced by our digital-first offering.
“Westfield Stratford City is a prominent site with an unrivalled profile, and so provides us with a brilliant platform to begin this journey.
“Our ambition is to lead with responsible, sustainable practices at the heart of all we do, and leave a legacy of jobs creation in each community that we open up in. This is a major milestone for the brand and we are excited to announce further acquisitions in the run-up to our November opening.”
Popeyes U.K. expansion represents the brand’s 11th new country in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which already has over 350 Popeyes locations in the region.
