PHOTO: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
New Zealand’s love affair with fried chicken has reached fever pitch, thanks to the arrival of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. The American fast-food giant has made a thunderous entry into Aotearoa, drawing massive crowds, causing traffic jams, and igniting a nationwide craving for its signature spicy chicken.
🍗 A Grand Opening Like No Other
In April 2024, Popeyes opened its first New Zealand store in Takanini, Auckland, and the response was nothing short of extraordinary. Fans queued for hours—some even overnight—to get their hands on the famous chicken sandwich. The turnout was so overwhelming that traffic backed up to State Highway 1, and the restaurant had to shut its drive-through lane at 10:30 PM, with staff working until 4 AM to clear the backlog .
The Takanini store, boasting a 300sqm space with a bespoke multi-million-dollar fit-out, set a global record for first-day sales among Popeyes outlets .
📍 Rapid Expansion Across the Country
Riding on the success of its inaugural store, Popeyes has ambitious plans for New Zealand. The company announced a $25 million investment to open 10 stores across the country in 2024, creating over 150 jobs and sourcing ingredients from local suppliers
The second store is slated to open in Taupō in July 2024, followed by a location in Hastings later in the year . Plans are also underway for a store in Palmerston North, although concerns have been raised about potential traffic congestion at the proposed site.
🚗 Managing the Hype
The overwhelming popularity of Popeyes has led to logistical challenges. In Lower Hutt, the newly opened store had to implement traffic management measures as queues spilled onto the road, prompting complaints to the Hutt City Council .
Despite these issues, customer enthusiasm remains high. Many patrons praise the chicken’s crunchiness and flavor, with some even favoring it over other fast-food options .
🔮 What’s Next for Popeyes NZ?
With its aggressive expansion strategy and overwhelming customer response, Popeyes is poised to become a major player in New Zealand’s fast-food scene. The company’s commitment to local sourcing and job creation further cements its position as a welcome addition to the Kiwi culinary landscape.
As Popeyes continues to “paint the country orange,” Kiwis can look forward to more locations and, of course, more of that irresistible Louisiana-style fried chicken.