ATLANTA, Oct. 10, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- As the busy holiday season approaches, home cooks can breathe a sigh of relief as they plan their holiday dinners. Popeyes(r) Chicken & Biscuits, a division of AFC Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFCE) and the world's second-largest quick-service chicken concept, is happy to announce that its fully cooked Cajun Turkeys are available at participating Popeyes restaurants beginning November 1 through the holiday season.
A southern Louisiana tradition, the popularity of serving whole Cajun Turkeys has expanded from the bayous to mainstream America and will be served on thousands of tables across the country this holiday season. Popeyes Executive Chef Billy Jacob developed the recipe for the Popeyes Cajun Turkey in 1997. It has been a hit with customers ever since.
"Back in the 1980s when Cajun fried turkeys were becoming all the rage in Louisiana, Popeyes started cooking them for customers in our New Orleans restaurants," said Jacob. "As time passed, the interest in Cajun turkeys grew tremendously and they have become a regular feature on our menu during the holiday season. The turkeys are not only full of flavor, but they are easy for the busy home cook who doesn't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen preparing a big holiday meal. It's simple -- just heat and eat!"
Perfect for family gatherings, holiday dinners, tailgating parties or any special event, Popeyes Cajun Turkeys are whole turkeys deeply marinated with a Cajun spice blend that is injected into the bird to bring the flavor to the bone. Then they are slow roasted and crispy fried. By flash frying the turkeys, a unique crispy coating is created. This special technique locks in all the flavor and moistness that most turkeys lose during the cooking process.
"Our customers have discovered the delicious taste of our Cajun Turkeys and keep coming back for more. Many people enjoy the convenience of having a turkey prepared for them and not having to spend hours in the kitchen attempting to cook the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. And they are not only great as part of a holiday meal, but they also make unique gifts for business associates, family and friends," said Jacob.
Popeyes is a leader in the Cajun segment of the foodservice industry and is the world's second-largest quick-service chicken concept. Founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Popeyes has more than 1,650 locations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 21 other countries and achieved 2001 worldwide sales of approximately $1.3 billion. Visit Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' website at www.popeyes.com.
AFC Enterprises, Inc. is the franchisor and operator of 3,911 restaurants, bakeries and cafes in the United States, Puerto Rico and 28 foreign countries under the brand names Church's Chicken(tm), Popeyes(r) Chicken & Biscuits, Cinnabon(r), Seattle's Best Coffee(r) and Torrefazione Italia(r) Coffee. AFC's primary objective is to be the world's Franchisor of Choice(r) by offering investment opportunities in highly recognizable brands and exceptional franchisee support systems and services. AFC Enterprises had system-wide sales of approximately $2.6 billion in 2001 and can be found on the World Wide Web at www.afce.com.