Popeyes, a leading US fast-food chain specializing in fried chicken, has unveiled plans for a major expansion in Poland in 2025. Known for its Louisiana-style menu, the chain currently operates eight outlets across Poland, with two more scheduled to open before the end of 2024. This includes its first free-standing drive-thru restaurant in Szczecin and another location in Janki near Warsaw.
Michał Różycki, head of Popeyes’ expansion in Poland at Rex Concepts CEE, which oversees the brand’s operations in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania, hinted at a significant increase in the number of openings in 2025. “I cannot provide the exact number of new openings, but there will definitely be more than in 2024,” Różycki stated.
Unlike other fast-food chains, Popeyes is focusing exclusively on dine-in experiences to boost brand recognition. “We want to increase brand awareness, and this is only possible thanks to on-site service,” explained Kamila Węcka, marketing manager at Popeyes Polska. Delivery services are not currently part of the brand’s immediate strategy.
Poland's fast-food market has shown robust growth in recent years. According to industry data, traffic in fast-food establishments increased by an average of 4.7% in the first quarter of 2024, with chicken-focused and burger restaurants experiencing the highest growth. This trend reflects a positive shift in consumer sentiment and a growing appetite for quick-service dining options.
The Polish catering industry has also seen a resurgence, adding 2,600 new establishments—including restaurants, mobile food trucks, and catering services—in the past six months. This represents an 11% increase in the mobile catering sector alone compared to the end of 2023, signaling a return to pre-pandemic growth levels.
Popeyes operates nearly 4,300 restaurants worldwide and is a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), one of the world’s largest quick-service restaurant companies. RBI owns other popular brands, including Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Firehouse Subs, with over 30,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries and system-wide sales exceeding $40 billion annually.
As Poland’s dining market continues to expand, Popeyes is positioning itself to capture a growing share of the chicken-focused fast-food segment. With a strategy centered on physical locations and a strong emphasis on brand-building, the chain’s investments in Poland align with broader market recovery trends and rising consumer demand for quick-service options.
