Applegreen and Popeyes partnership to create 450 jobs across Irish roadside locations

Irish roadside hospitality group Applegreen is set to create up to 450 new jobs following a franchise agreement with Popeyes UK and Ireland that will see the American chicken brand roll out across a number of its Irish locations over the next four years, in a development that illustrates the workforce planning demands of large-scale frontline hospitality expansion.

Hospitality Ireland reported that Applegreen will invest approximately €6 million to open Popeyes outlets at its Irish roadside sites, with the first location set to open at Midway, Junction 17 on the M7 at Portlaoise in the coming weeks.

The agreement follows the opening of Popeyes' first Irish restaurant in Blanchardstown on 6 June, with a second due to open at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre shortly. Popeyes UK and Ireland holds the master franchise for the brand across both the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Seamus Stapleton, managing director of Applegreen's Republic of Ireland business, said: "We are delighted to add Popeyes to our growing portfolio of high-quality brands in the Irish market. At Applegreen, we're committed to raising the bar for roadside hospitality and offering great food and world-class service to people on the move. Popeyes is a fantastic addition to the Applegreen offer and we can't wait to open our first Popeyes outlet at Midway later this summer."

Tom Byng, chief development officer of Popeyes UK and Ireland, said the Applegreen partnership marks a significant step in the brand's Irish expansion. He said: "The partnership will allow us to reach more consumers on the move and marks an exciting milestone in our journey to bring our much-loved shatter crunchin' chicken to Irish customers, with our first Irish restaurant in Blanchardstown now open."

Popeyes operates approximately 5,400 restaurants across 50 countries, with annual global sales of $8 billion (approximately €7.4 billion). The brand entered the UK market in 2021 and has grown to more than 110 restaurants there, employing 3,500 staff and generating sales of over £118 million (approximately €140 million) in 2024, up from £15 million (approximately €17.8 million) in 2022. Popeyes UK was named Europe's fastest-growing company in the food and beverage industry in the Financial Times FT1000 ranking.

Read the full details of the Applegreen and Popeyes partnership announcement.