Popeyes UK secures US$58.1M loan for nationwide expansion, plans 45 new stores, strategic travel hub growth

UK – Popeyes UK has announced an ambitious nationwide expansion plan, fueled by a recently secured £43 million (US$58.1 million) loan from Barclays Corporate Banking.

This substantial funding will enable the fast-growing chicken chain to open 45 additional stores across the UK within 2025, marking a pivotal chapter in its rapid rise since entering the market in late 2021.

The new financing builds on Popeyes UK’s momentum following a year of record growth.

In 2024, the brand doubled its total sales to over £118 million (US$159 million) and opened 33 new locations, bringing its estate to more than 80 sites by mid-2025.

The planned openings for 2025 will span major cities, including Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, London, and Scotland, and will feature a variety of formats such as eat-in restaurants, drive-thrus, and delivery kitchens.

This expansion is expected to create approximately 2,500 new jobs and is part of a medium-term strategy to scale the brand to more than 350 UK sites, establishing Popeyes as a leading quick-service restaurant (QSR) operator in the market.

In addition to its high street and drive-thru expansion, Popeyes UK is also targeting travel hubs as a key growth channel.

In April 2025, the brand entered a strategic partnership with SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations, to launch Popeyes restaurants in prominent travel centers.

The inaugural site will open at Birmingham Airport in early summer 2025, offering the brand’s signature menu, including its iconic Chicken Sandwich and a new breakfast offering, to both dine-in and takeaway customers.

This partnership is expected to create hundreds of jobs and significantly boost Popeyes’ visibility among travelers.

Popeyes UK’s master franchise is backed by TDR Capital, which increased its investment to £50 million (US$67.5 million) in 2023, further strengthening the brand’s financial foundation and supporting its aggressive rollout plans.

The company’s expansion is underpinned by a proven global brand appeal, a highly acclaimed customer proposition, and ongoing menu and technology innovation.

As Popeyes UK prepares for another year of rapid growth, the combination of strong financial support, strategic partnerships, and a clear vision for nationwide and travel hub expansion positions the brand to become one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic QSR operators.

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