Popeyes

On August 27, Olive Oyl steals Popeye’s heart when she mistakenly kisses him on the cheek, starting their long, tumultuous love affair.

In 1931, the spinach industry credits Segar and Popeye with increasing the United States consumption of spinach by 33%! Popeye's influence on spinach consumption has been significant and long-lasting.

In 1957, a 56-foot-tall Popeye balloon made its debut in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The balloon continued to be a crowd favorite for the next ten years until 1968.

Popeyes, originally named 'Chicken on the Run', was founded in Arabi, Louisiana on June 12, 1972.

By 1975, Popeyes had been renamed to Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken.

Paramount Pictures releases a live-action, musical motion picture 'Popeye' directed by Robert Altman, starring Robin Williams as Popeye and Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl.

Olive Oyl makes her debut in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as the first new female character balloon in decades.

In 1983, Popeyes added buttermilk biscuits to their menu. This new addition became a popular choice among customers and contributed to the brand's offerings.

Popeyes expanded internationally in 1984 by opening its first location in Toronto, Canada. This marked the beginning of Popeyes' global presence and introduced its New Orleans-inspired flavors to a new market.

By 1985, Popeyes had expanded to 500 locations, including establishments in Canada. This marked a significant milestone in the brand's growth and reach.

For a period in 1989, Popeyes included crawfish on their menu. This addition showcased the brand's willingness to experiment with different food items.

In 1990, Copeland Enterprises, the parent company of Popeyes, faced financial difficulties after acquiring Church's Chicken. This led to the company filing for bankruptcy in 1991.

In April 1991, Copeland Enterprises, the parent company of Popeyes, filed for bankruptcy protection due to debts.

A commemorative stamp for Popeye is issued in 1995.

In 1999, Popeyes achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $1 billion in annual sales, showcasing its growth and success under the ownership of AFC.

Popeyes announced a franchise development plan in 2000 to open 35 new restaurant locations in Sydney, Australia, as part of their expansion strategy in the Asia Pacific region.

In 2001, AFC, the parent company of Popeyes, went public with an initial public offering of $142,818,479, marking a new chapter in the company's financial history.

In 2008, Popeyes underwent a rebranding effort and changed its name to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, reflecting a renewed focus on its Southern-inspired cuisine.

Popeye was showcased as the Google Doodle on December 8 to commemorate the birthday of his creator Elzie Crisler Segar.

In late November 2012, AFC announced the mutual termination of their licensing contract with King Features Syndicate, effectively ending their association with the Popeye characters.

In June 17, 2014, Popeyes gained control over its recipes by acquiring them from Diversified Foods & Seasonings for $43 million.

On February 21, 2017, Restaurant Brands International bought Popeyes for $1.8 billion.

On March 27, 2017, the deal closed with RBI purchasing Popeyes at $79 per share via Orange, Inc, an indirect subsidiary of RBI.

Popeye's first short form content series, Popeye's Island Adventures, is released on the Popeye and Friends Official YouTube Channel.

Warner Bros. releases a DVD and Blu-ray set titled 'Popeye the Sailor: The 1940s Volume 1', making Popeye's original theatrical color cartoons available for home viewing for the first time.

Celebration of Popeye turning 90 years old.

The marketing campaign for Popeyes' chicken sandwich began on August 12, 2019, with a tweet on Popeyes' Twitter feed. The sandwich quickly went viral, leading to a significant increase in traffic and free publicity for the chain.

Chick-fil-A indirectly criticized Popeyes' chicken sandwich on Twitter, triggering a social media storm. This feud contributed to the viral marketing of Popeyes' brand.

Due to overwhelming demand, Popeyes ran out of chicken sandwiches by August 27, 2019. This scarcity led to various incidents and controversies surrounding the sandwich.

On October 25, 2019, Popeyes announced the return of its popular chicken sandwich to locations across the US.

Popeyes announced on October 28, 2019, that the popular chicken sandwich would be returning to locations across the US on November 3. This announcement came after the sandwich had sold out quickly during its initial launch.

Popeyes reintroduced their chicken sandwich on November 2, 2019, with increased supply to prevent shortages. The relaunch coincided with Chick-fil-A's closed day, adding a competitive edge.

On May 15, 2020, Popeyes opened its first store in China, expanding its global presence.

Popeye's enduring popularity was highlighted on September 8, 2020, showcasing his timeless appeal and continued relevance.

On March 28, 2022, Popeyes revealed a revamped Canal Street location with a modern design, self-order kiosks, and digital order pickup areas.

Al Copeland, a young entrepreneur, founded Popeyes Chicken after working at various local food brands. Starting from a Tastee Donut shop, he learned the ins and outs of managing a food service business before creating the world-famous fried chicken chain.

A new limited edition timepiece collaboration between Reservoir and LabelNoir showcasing the iconic cartoon character Popeye, blending nostalgia with sleek fashion.

The latest collection from Souled Store in India showcases vibrant colors and exciting designs with the beloved Popeye character and his gang in fun poses.

A new collection of building blocks featuring Popeye & Olive and the Me Ship! from Guangdong Pinqi is released, inviting fans to embark on a treasure hunt.

Popeye was awarded the GH Nutritionist Approved Emblem by the Good Housekeeping Institute for his dedication to healthy eating and fitness.

January 17th is officially recognized as Popeye the Sailor Man Day by the National Day Calendar, celebrating the iconic American pop culture figure.