A Popeyes franchisee operating more than 100 locations in the southeastern United States has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to court documents. Sailormen Inc., which manages 136 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurants across Georgia and Florida, filed the petition in the Southern District of Florida, citing nearly $130 million in debt.
The franchisee attributed its financial troubles to inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and an increasingly limited qualified labour force. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows the company to continue operating while it develops a reorganization plan to repay its debts. The filing did not specify potential closures, and the company employs approximately 3,272 hourly workers.
Founded in 1984, Sailormen Inc. once operated stores in seven states but sold many locations between 2012 and 2018 to focus on Florida and Georgia. A proposed sale of 16 locations in 2023 fell through, leaving the company responsible for the leases. Peter Perdue, president of Popeyes in the U.S. and Canada, stated that a large majority of the franchisee's restaurants are likely to remain open, describing them as profitable and in line with system averages.
The bankruptcy follows a trend of fast-food chain closures, including Salad and Go shuttering all Texas and Oklahoma locations, Noodles & Company planning to close up to 35 restaurants in 2026, and Jack in the Box closing dozens of underperforming sites last year.
