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Popeyes celebrates 50th year with golden couples, dealsPopeyes celebrates 50th year with golden couples, deals

Month-long anniversary promotion includes return of Cajun Rice and nominations of 50-year pairs for nationwide ad

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

June 21, 2022

2 Min Read
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Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is celebrating its founding in 1972 by offering special promotions this month as well as advice from couples married 50 years, the company said Tuesday.

The division of Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International Inc. is marking the brand’s introduction on June 12, 1972, by Al Copeland in New Orleans, La.

As part of the celebration, Popeyes is offering a signature chicken promotion, the return of Cajun Rice, a new video showcasing 50 years of love lessons and a nationwide campaign designed for lovebirds to have their love story of 50 years celebrated.

Starting Tuesday, Popeyes is inviting customers to celebrate with them in a variety of ways: 

- Cajun Rice will return to menus for a limited time. Cajun Rice (which in the past had been called  Rice Dressing) became a favorite among customers for  Cajun and creole seasonings mixed with bell pepper, onion, garlic, celery and cayenne. Popeyes discontinued the menu item in 2021, but customers have on social media said they wanted the side dish back.

- The brand is offering five pieces of breaded chicken for $6.99 in participating markets.

- Popeyes is introducing a new Strawberry Cheesecake Fried Pie at restaurants nationwide.

- The brand invited five diverse couples celebrating their own 50th anniversaries to discuss their own recipes for long-lived love and produced a video available on YouTube.

- The company invites couples, or their family members and friends, to nominate their love story via direct message on Twitter or by emailing [email protected]. Popeyes will pick the most heartwarming story to be featured on the national stage in a Popeyes ad. 

As of March 31, the end of the first quarter, Popeyes had 3,771 locations worldwide. RBI also owns the Burger King, Tim Hortons and Firehouse Subs brands.

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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