The deal clinched with Sterling Cruise, a company founded by Dan Isai and other Romanian entrepreneurs, also marks the chain’s entry on the East-European market, with the brand now owning units in Spain and Switzerland.
The first restaurant in Romania is to be opened in 2022.
“We are happy to bring the Popeyes brand to Romania. Expansion is set to create hundreds of new jobs in the coming years”, said a Sterling Cruise representative.
Sterling Cruise was launched in 2014. Apart from the Salad Box chain, which it also expanded abroad, the group has developed other brands as well, such as Pep & Pepper, Taksim or Resto Aperto.
Salad Box is one of the best-known restaurant brands domestically, which has meanwhile expanded in a franchise system abroad.
Founded in New Orleans in 1972, US Popeyes chain has over 3,300 restaurants across the US and other countries.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)