Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. — commonly known simply as Popeyes — is a famous American fast-food restaurant chain specializing in Southern-style fried chicken and Cajun-inspired sides. Founded on June 12, 1972 in Arabi, Louisiana (near New Orleans) by Alvin “Big Al” Copeland, the brand grew from a local favorite into a global franchise with thousands of locations around the world.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, USA, Popeyes operates in more than 30 countries and has thousands of restaurants, the vast majority of which are franchised.
Ownership Status of Popeyes
Popeyes does not have a single private owner today. Instead, it is a publicly traded company that is wholly owned as a subsidiary of a larger corporate parent. Specifically:
- Parent Company: Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI)
- Ownership Type: Public subsidiary (shares of the parent company are traded publicly on stock exchanges)
- Popeyes Brand Owned By: Restaurant Brands International Inc.
About Restaurant Brands International (RBI)
Restaurant Brands International is a Canadian multinational fast-food holding company that owns several major restaurant brands, including:
- Burger King
- Tim Hortons
- Popeyes
- Firehouse Subs
RBI was formed in 2014 through the merger of Burger King and Tim Hortons, and then acquired Popeyes in 2017 for approximately $1.8 billion, bringing the fast-food chicken chain under its umbrella.
Major Shareholder Info
Since RBI is publicly traded, it’s owned by many institutional investors and shareholders. One of the key stakeholders is 3G Restaurant Brands Holdings LP (an affiliate of 3G Capital), which holds a significant portion of RBI’s common equity (over 23% as of late 2025), making it a major influential investor in the company that owns Popeyes.
Key Shareholder Highlights
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Percentage (Approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3G Restaurant Brands Holdings LP | ~23.2% | Major institutional investor in Restaurant Brands International. |
| Other Institutional Investors / Mutual Funds | Varies | Includes pension funds, ETFs, and other public shareholders. |
Note: The remaining equity is held by various institutional and retail investors.
Recent Developments in Ownership
While Popeyes itself is owned by RBI and does not have individual owners, ownership stakes in RBI can change over time as institutional investors buy or sell shares on the open market. The significant stake held by the 3G affiliate reflects investor confidence and influence in the company’s strategy and performance.
FAQs
1. Who currently owns Popeyes?
Popeyes is owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI), a publicly traded restaurant holding company.
2. Is Popeyes privately owned or publicly traded?
Popeyes itself isn’t directly publicly traded. Instead, it is a subsidiary of RBI, which is publicly traded.
3. Who founded Popeyes?
Popeyes was founded by Alvin “Big Al” Copeland in 1972.
4. Has ownership of Popeyes changed over time?
Yes. After its founding and growth through franchising, Popeyes became part of Restaurant Brands International in 2017, shifting from an independent company to a subsidiary of a global restaurant group.
Popeyes is a global fast-food chain known for its Louisiana-style fried chicken. Founded by Al Copeland, it is currently owned by Restaurant Brands International, a major publicly traded restaurant holding company also behind Burger King and Tim Hortons. Ownership is shared among institutional and retail investors through RBI’s public stock.