Local Popeyes franchise changes hands

Pegasus Chairman Robert Badal earlier this week confirmed with this newspaper that the local operating franchise for the chicken and seafood restaurant, Popeyes, which he has held since 2003, has been sold to another Guyanese businessman.

In a brief telephone interview with Stabroek Business earlier this week Badal said that a confidentiality clause contained in the agreement with the new franchise owner precluded him from disclosing any further details of the transaction.

New ownership: The local Popeye’s outlet

Popeyes is a chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants, owned since 1993 by the US Company AFC Enterprises. Purportedly the second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant group, Popeyes boasts more than 1,800 mostly franchised outlets in more than 40 states and in countries outside the United States including China, Indonesia, South Korea, Canada, Jamaica, Singapore and Japan.

The former franchise holder for the Vlissengen Road and Duncan Street Popeyes restaurant is better known as the majority shareholder in the poultry and stockfeed enterprise, Guyana Stockfeeds Ltd. and, since May 2009, as the major shareholder and Chairman of the Pegasus Hotel, acquired from Lehwood Netherlands Holdings by a consortium led by Badal. The group also includes the National Edible Oils & Fats Inc, El Dorado Rice Mills Inc and El Dorado Restaurants.