Popeyes is trying to stop a rough start to 2026 from turning into a financial catastrophe. Parent company Restaurant Brands International recently revealed that Popeyes posted a 6.5% drop in same-store sales during the first quarter, marking the chain’s weakest quarterly performance in roughly two decades.
According to Restaurant Business, the downturn extends a slide that had already been building throughout 2025. Popeyes ended last year with four straight quarters of negative same-store sales, including declines of 2% in Q3 and 4.9% in Q4. Systemwide sales also dipped 0.5% in 2025 before falling another 3.9% to begin 2026.
Despite the numbers, RBI executives said the company is already pushing through a turnaround strategy focused on restaurant operations, menu simplification, and value pricing.
“While results were softer than we’d like to see, we have a clear understanding of the underlying drivers and are moving quickly to address them,” RBI CEO Josh Kobza said during the company’s earnings call.
Popeyes president Peter Perdue, who previously helped improve operations at Burger King, has been leading the effort. The company says it has increased field support, launched in-person restaurant training programs across multiple markets, and narrowed its menu focus back on core items like bone-in chicken, sandwiches, and tenders.
That marks a noticeable shift from the past two years, when Popeyes leaned heavily into limited-time promotions and crossover campaigns. The chain rolled out everything from pickle-themed menus and wraps to collaborations tied to Hot Ones collaboration and Don Julio.
The Miami-based company had operated more than 130 Popeyes restaurants across Florida and Georgia before beginning a wave of closures that has now affected about 20 locations.
Bankruptcy filings tied the problems to inflation, declining customer traffic, and rising operational costs.
Competition has only added more pressure. Chicken chains have expanded aggressively over the last decade, while brands outside the category—including McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and Chili's—have all intensified their chicken offerings.
RBI executives insist Popeyes still has an advantage. “We’ve got the best food in the category,” Executive Chairman Patrick Doyle said.
