Mia Patel
On August 12, 2019, Popeyes introduced a fried chicken sandwich to its menu, sparking a chicken sandwich war. The sandwich was so popular that Popeyes sold out nationally, with some locations selling out within days. On August 27, Popeyes announced that it had officially sold out across the country. The sandwich returned to locations across the US on November 3, with additional supply to ensure they wouldn't run out. The sandwich consists of a tender, all-white meat chicken breast fillet, marinated in Louisiana seasonings, hand-battered, and breaded in a buttermilk coating. It is served on a warm, toasted, buttery brioche bun with pickles and classic or spicy mayonnaise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of announcement | August 12, 2019 |
| Date of launch | August 27, 2019 |
| Date of sold-out announcement | September 5, 2019 |
| Date of relaunch announcement | October 28, 2019 |
| Date of relaunch | November 3, 2019 |
| Date the sandwich was brought to Canada | September 14, 2020 |
| Ingredients | Crispy fried chicken breast, pickles, mayo or spicy Cajun sauce, and a brioche bun |
| Price in Canada | $5.99-$6.49 CAD |
| Number of American fast food brands that introduced or re-released chicken sandwiches by January 2021 | More than 20 |
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What You'll Learn
Popeyes' chicken sandwich sold out in August 2019, two weeks after its launch
Popeyes' fried chicken sandwich debuted on 12 August 2019. The sandwich was a natural competitor to Chick-fil-A's famous sandwich, which is also a Southern-style chicken sandwich with a buttered roll and pickles. The Popeyes sandwich was priced at $4, making it the cheapest sandwich in the lineup.
The sandwich was well-received, with Business Insider's Irene Jiang praising it for its crispy, juicy, and fresh chicken, and well-balanced ingredients. Twitter users also sang its praises, comparing it to Chick-fil-A's sandwich. However, two weeks after its launch, Popeyes announced that it was officially sold out due to “extraordinary demand”. The company tweeted: "We love that you love The Sandwich. Unfortunately, we're sold out (for now)".
The popularity of the sandwich led to long lines and even fights at Popeyes locations. The phenomenon became known as the “Chicken Sandwich War of 2019", with debate over chicken sandwiches dominating social media. The success of the sandwich also resulted in a 38% increase in sales for Popeyes by the end of 2019.
On 28 October 2019, Popeyes announced that the chicken sandwich would return to locations across the US on 3 November as a permanent item. The company stabilized its supply chain and hired more employees to prepare for the relaunch.
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The sandwich sparked the chicken sandwich wars of 2019
On August 12, 2019, Popeyes, an American multinational chain of fried chicken restaurants, introduced a fried chicken sandwich to its menu. The sandwich was a natural competitor to Chick-fil-A's famous sandwich, which is also a Southern-style chicken sandwich with a buttered roll and pickles. Popeyes' sandwich is made with a chicken breast seasoned and spiced with the brand's traditional buttermilk batter, thick-cut pickles, mayo or spicy Cajun spread, and a buttery brioche bun. It retailed for $4.
The launch of the sandwich sparked the "Chicken Sandwich Wars" of 2019, a marketing trend in the United States where numerous American quick-serve restaurant chains introduced fried chicken sandwiches to their menus. The phenomenon began when Popeyes and Chick-fil-A disputed which of them was first to serve such a sandwich. This dispute led to a Twitter feud between the two brands, captivating the internet and sparking debate over chicken sandwiches on social media. The popularity of the Popeyes sandwich was unprecedented, with lines snaking out the door and fights breaking out on the drive-thru. The sandwich even gained a parody on Saturday Night Live, with Harry Styles starring in a sketch mocking its popularity.
The impact of the Chicken Sandwich Wars extended beyond social media and popular culture. By the end of 2019, Popeyes saw a 38% increase in sales, largely attributed to its new chicken sandwich. The intense competition for chicken sandwiches, combined with supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to chicken shortages in the United States in 2021. The price of chicken reached a three-year record high, and the surge in pricing was attributed to the Chicken Sandwich Wars by The Birmingham News.
The Chicken Sandwich Wars also had a significant impact on the fast-food industry, with over 20 American fast-food brands adding or re-releasing chicken sandwiches to their menus by January 2021. Some of these brands included KFC, Burger King, McDonald's, and Taco Bell. The wars even sparked innovation in plant-based meats, with KFC testing plant-based chicken strips made in partnership with Beyond Meat.
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It was relaunched on November 2, 2019, with additional supply
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. is an American multinational chain of fried chicken restaurants founded in 1972 in New Orleans, with its headquarters in Miami. The company first opened its doors on June 12, 1972, as "Chicken on the Run". However, the restaurant failed after several months, and the owner, Al Copeland, reopened four days later as Popeyes Mighty Good Chicken.
In 2019, Popeyes introduced a fried chicken sandwich to its menu, which sparked a social media frenzy and the so-called "Chicken Sandwich Wars". The sandwich was first launched on August 12, 2019, at Sweet Dixie Kitchen, a trendy Los Angeles restaurant that previously served chicken sandwiches using fried chicken from Popeyes. The sandwich consists of a crispy fried chicken breast, topped with pickles, and slicked with mayo or spicy Cajun sauce, served on a brioche bun. It received positive reviews, with customers praising its taste and affordable price of $4.
Due to its popularity, the sandwich quickly sold out, and on August 27, just two weeks after its launch, Popeyes announced that it was officially off the menu. The company stated that they were working to bring the sandwich back as soon as possible. On October 28, 2019, Popeyes announced the return of the chicken sandwich, which would be available again at locations across the US on November 3, National Sandwich Day. To meet the high demand, Popeyes relaunched the sandwich on November 2, 2019, with additional supply. The sandwich's return, however, was marred by an incident of violence at a Maryland Popeyes, where a customer was stabbed to death following an altercation over line-cutting.
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The sandwich was parodied on Saturday Night Live
On August 12, 2019, Popeyes introduced a fried chicken sandwich to its menu. The sandwich was a simple combination of a chicken breast seasoned with Popeyes' traditional buttermilk batter, thick-cut pickles, mayo or spicy Cajun spread, and a buttery brioche bun. The sandwich was priced at $4.
The launch of the sandwich sparked a "chicken sandwich war" between Popeyes and Chick-fil-A, with both companies claiming to be the first to serve such a menu item. The rivalry between the two companies played out on Twitter, captivating the internet and driving customers wild. The popularity of the sandwich led to long lines, sold-out stores, and even instances of violence and tragedy.
The sandwich was so popular that Popeyes sold out nationally within two weeks of its launch, and it took two months for the sandwich to return to the menu on November 3, which coincidentally was National Sandwich Day. The return of the sandwich, however, was marred by a fatal incident at a Maryland Popeyes, where a customer was stabbed to death after allegedly cutting the line.
The sandwich's popularity continued, and in 2020, Popeyes launched it in Canada, generating excitement among Canadian fans. The sandwich was also parodied on Saturday Night Live, with Harry Styles starring in a sketch that poked fun at the craze surrounding the menu item.
The impact of the Popeyes chicken sandwich extended beyond its own restaurants, as over 20 American fast-food brands introduced or expanded their fried chicken sandwich offerings in response to its success. The "chicken sandwich war" also led to shortages of chicken in the United States in the spring of 2021, as companies rushed to meet the surging demand for these sandwiches.
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Popeyes brought the sandwich to Canada in September 2020
Popeyes' fried chicken sandwich debuted in the United States on 12 August 2019. The sandwich was an instant hit, with lines snaking out of the door and fights breaking out on the drive-thru. The sandwich was so popular that Popeyes sold out nationally within two weeks of its launch.
Following the success of the 2019 American launch, Popeyes brought the sandwich to Canada in September 2020. The sandwich was made available at over 230 Popeyes restaurant locations across the country. The Canadian launch followed a pilot program in Alberta and Southern Ontario.
The sandwich consists of a tender, all-white meat chicken breast fillet, marinated in an authentic blend of Louisiana seasonings, then hand-battered and breaded in Popeyes' all-new buttermilk coating. It is served on a warm and toasted buttery brioche bun with crisp barrel-cured pickles and classic or spicy mayonnaise.
Popeyes is an American multinational chain of fried chicken restaurants founded in 1972 in New Orleans and headquartered in Miami. As of 2021, Popeyes has 3,705 restaurants, located in more than 46 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 30 countries worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Popeyes announced its new chicken sandwich on August 12, 2019.
Popeyes announced it had sold out of its chicken sandwich on August 27, 2019, just two weeks after its launch.
Popeyes relaunched its chicken sandwich on November 2, 2019, with additional supply to ensure they wouldn't run out.
Popeyes brought its chicken sandwich to Canada on September 14, 2020.
