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Duke and King to acquire 14 PopeyesDuke and King to acquire 14 Popeyes

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

February 24, 2010

1 Min Read
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Ron Ruggless

BURNSVILLE Minn. Multi-concept operator Duke and King Holdings LLC is in the process of acquiring 14 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations in Virginia's Tidewater region.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the company said the transaction is expected to close March 1. Duke and King is buying the units from Joseph Simone, the original franchisee.

Burnsville-based Duke and King, led by industry veterans Rodger Head and Clyde Culp, also operates 93 Burger Kings and owns the bd’s Mongolian Grill chain.

“While the Popeyes business has been successful in the Tidewater market, we intend to revitalize the focus on delivering to our customers great-tasting food served fast and friendly like we do in our other restaurants,” Head said.

Head and Culp will be actively involved in the operations and management of the Popeyes locations. In addition, industry veteran Mike McAvay has been named regional vice president, overseeing the new acquisitions.

The Popeyes locations in the acquisition include two in Chesapeake, three in Virginia Beach, three in Norfolk, two in Hampton, two in Newport News and two in Portsmouth.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].

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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