PARIS – Popeyes, a unit of Restaurant Brands International, announced an exclusive master franchise and development agreement to develop the Popeyes brand in France and Monaco with leading French restaurant group, napaqaro.

The partnership between napaqaro and RBI complements napaqaro’s portfolio of foodservice platforms which includes casual dining (Buffalo Grill, Courtepaille), dark kitchens and digital activities (Bun Meat Bun). napaqaro is backed by TDR Capital, a leading private equity firm managing funds with more than €10 billion of committed capital and decades of experience in the hospitality sector.

“We are extremely proud to partner with Restaurant Brands International, one of the world’s largest quick-service restaurant companies, to introduce Popeyes in France. This new partnership confirms napaqaro’s ambition to build the future of the restaurant industry in France, offering a unique customer experience to our guests and families,” said Jocelyn Olive, president and chief executive officer of napaqaro. “With 100% of our chickens born and raised in France, natural ingredients sourced locally, and proprietary family recipes, Popeyes in France will aspire to be at the forefront in leading QSR towards utilizing sustainable and responsibly sourced ingredients wherever possible.”

The first Popeyes in France is set to open in 2022. RBI and napaqaro expect to open hundreds of restaurants over the coming years. The companies expect the launch will lead to major investment in market-leading talent and digital innovation and create hundreds of new jobs spanning critical operational roles in construction, supply chain and distribution.

“We’re delighted to announce this landmark agreement for Popeyes and can’t wait to introduce our iconic chicken to France, one of the largest QSR markets in the world,” said David Shear, president of RBI. “This is another significant step in Popeyes’ European journey and follows successful entries into Spain and most recently the UK. Today’s announcement demonstrates our ability to partner with leading institutional investors who have backed best-in-class local operators.”

RBI said the agreement reflects the global appeal of Popeyes and aligns with the company’s brand expansion plan. Other international expansions announced during 2021 include the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Romania and India.