Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen may crack South Africa's brutally competitive chicken market but it will take time, creativity and loads of cash. The US-based brand will launch its first local store in Sandton City, Johannesburg, on Thursday, with former Burger King South Africa CEO Jaye Sinclair at the helm. Local franchisee Siyaghopa Trading Group has put all its eggs in one basket - it was specifically established to roll out Popeyes. Sinclair resigned from Burger King in February last year and shortly thereafter, with his Siyaghopa associates, began talks for the New Orleans-style chicken brand's master development rights. Sinclair, who had been eyeing Popeyes since 2010, said: "The quick service restaurant [QSR] segment is one part of the economy that is showing consistent growth. It seems to have been buoyed because some people are eating down and other people are emerging into the market." The QSR segment is going to be worth around R40-billion next year and chicken makes up more t...
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