Popeyes Enters China Market in Hope That Virus Fear Is Passing
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The coronavirus pandemic isn’t slowing Popeyes’ expansion plans in China, even after the deadly pathogen caused a record collapse in the country’s restaurant sector.
China will become the fast-food chain’s second-largest market in two-to-three years, Raphael Coelho, chief executive officer of Popeyes China, said in an interview Tuesday. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc., a unit ofRestaurant Brands International Inc., which also owns the Burger King and Tim Hortons chains, is sticking to its plan toopen 1,500 outlets in the next 10 years.
Popeyes is trying to bring its signature Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich into the Chinese market during one of the most perilous times for restaurants. The sector suffered a record collapse in the March quarter, with a 44% sales plunge from a year ago as the economy ground to a halt. E-commerce sales rose 5.9% as consumers were forced to eat at home.
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