Popeyes has announced its debut in New Zealand, with the first hero restaurant set to open in April in Takanini, Auckland.

The Popeyes master franchisee in New Zealand (Popeyes MF – New Zealand) plans to open several more Popeyes restaurants across the country in quick succession by the end of this year. The chain is expected to create more than 150 jobs and bring in an estimated $25 million in investment over the next few years.

The first Popeyes location will include “a bespoke multi-million-dollar fitout” spanning 300sqm on a prominent corner position, according to the corporate statement.

“Our vision is to bring the heart and soul of our world-renowned recipes to Kiwis, through passionate teams and tasty food. We cannot wait to see the reaction come opening day,” said Sharn Phillips, head of marketing at Popeyes MF – New Zealand. 

The company added it plans to “heavily invest” in local suppliers as well as ensure product quality by procuring fresh ingredients from Kiwi providers nationally.

The New Zealand launch follows the brand’s expansion into the UK, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, and South Korea.

Founded in Louisiana in 1972 by Al Copeland, Popeyes serves a Louisiana-style menu that includes chicken sandwiches, fried chicken, chicken tenders, chicken wings, mash and Cajun gravy, mac & cheese, and biscuits.

Further reading: How Restaurant Brands is translating Western fast food for Asian markets