Popeyes UK has grown to a £100m business in two-and-a-half years, CEO Tom Crowley says.

The Louisiana founded fried chicken brand, which is backed by TDR Capital in the UK, has just opened a drive-thru in Manchester – its second in the city, 11th opening of 2024 and 47th overall.

Crowley said: “In just 30 months the outstanding Popeyes UK team have created a business with +£100m annual sales, a pipeline of ‘top drawer’ new sites including +25 for the year ahead and we are now achieving our highest product ratings…. ever! It doesn’t feel like work when you are alongside some of the most talented people in the industry.”

According to reports, the new Salford location saw customers queuing for 17 hours to be one of three people awarded with free fried chicken for a year.

Openings this year have included Bishop Auckland, Exeter, Bury New Road in Greater Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Swansea, Birmingham and London Waterloo Station.