Fried chicken chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is creating a host of new jobs by bring a taste of the American south to the Metrocentre.
The quick-service company is poised to open in the Metrocentre’s lower yellow mall, joining the shopping and leisure complex's other restaurants, later this summer, serving up savoury treats that have been wowing American crowds since it first opened 50 years ago. Popeyes, which was launched in New Orleans, boasts a full southern states menu featuring spicy chicken, chicken tenders, fried shrimp, red beans and rice, strawberry and cream cheese pie and other regional treats. It also says it is the world’s largest quick-service chicken concept restaurant, with more than 3,450 restaurants around the world as of 2020.
A number of celebrities are also known to be fans of the firm’s chicken treats, including singer Justin Bieber, rapper Cardi B and reality TV star Kylie Jenner. News of Popeyes' plans for the Metrocentre in Gateshead come as the company ramps up its UK expansion, having made its debut in the UK at the end of last year, in a former KFC site in Westfield Stratford.
