Popeyes continues to strengthen its presence in Italy and has chosen Sardinia for the next stage of its national development plan. The brand specializing in Louisiana-style fried chicken has opened its first restaurant on the island at the Fass Shopping Center in Elmas, just outside Cagliari, bringing its fast food offerings to the Sardinian market.
The opening marks a significant milestone for the brand, which now has 23 locations in Italy and consolidates its growth plan through franchising. The Elmas location is the second franchisee in the Italian network, following the opening in Montesilvano, Abruzzo.
The new location is located within the Fass Shopping Center, a recently built shopping center strategically located between the Sardinian capital and Cagliari Airport. The center is set to house numerous national and international brands and aims to become a hub for shopping, dining, and leisure, with significant employment and economic development benefits for the area.
According to Alessandro Carluccio, General Manager of Popeyes Italy, the arrival in Sardinia represents a particularly significant milestone in the brand's growth. The goal is to further expand its presence in the country, leveraging both direct stores and the franchising model.
Alessandro Liggi and Riccardo Aresu of R&R Chicken, the new restaurant's franchisee, also expressed satisfaction, emphasizing their desire to offer Sardinian consumers a new and distinctive gastronomic experience.
The restaurant has a floor space of 196 square meters, plus another 63 square meters in the mall's food court. The space can accommodate 18 customers inside and 50 in the communal dining area.
The offering includes dine-in, takeaway, mobile app ordering, and self-service digital kiosks, all in line with the latest fast-food restaurant standards.
The opening also created 25 new jobs. Staff were trained according to the brand's international standards, which aims to highlight its signature product: chicken marinated for twelve hours with Cajun spices, hand-breaded, and freshly fried.
With the debut of Elmas, Popeyes confirms the growing interest in the Italian market for the brand and continues its expansion plan, aiming to strengthen its presence in the country's main areas and further develop its franchise network.
