Popeyes has pledged to fund 1 million meals through Second Harvest Food Bank to help coronavirus-stricken New Orleans.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen was hands down the fast food story of 2019, maybe even the century thus far, when it introduced its fried chicken sandwich last summer.
But the fried chicken sandwich wars seem like such a long time ago, given the coronavirus crisis that has swept through the United States and around the world.
COVID-19 has been particularly deadly in New Orleans, the city with which Popeyes is most closely associated, as well as the state of Louisiana.
Now, Popeyes is launching a national special offer in an effort to give back.
It is offering the NOLA Strong Meal (NOLA stands for New Orleans, Louisiana). Sales will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank, a New Orleans charity that feeds the hungry.
Popeyes has pledged to fund one million meals through Second Harvest.
The meal, which lists on its website at $26.99, includes 12 pieces of chicken, two large side orders and six biscuits.
Purchasers also will be sent a Nola Strong t-shirt and hat, which are not included with the dinner. Purchasers will receive an email code that they can redeem for the apparel. The price does not include tax and shipping.
The apparel is also available online.
The meal pack will be available for a limited time.
Popeyes is promoting the meal in a video narrated by actor Wendell Pierce, a New Orleans native who starred in the HBO programs Treme and The Wire. He recently gave an acclaimed performance in London as Willie Loman in an acclaimed production of Death of a Salesman.
“The spirit of New Orleans unites us all, and together, we are Nola Strong,” Pierce says in the video. “When this is all over, laisser les bon temps roulez.”
The Popeyes effort comes as Second Harvest is experiencing an enormous jump in demand, like many food pantries across the country. The group estimates it can feed four people for every $1 it receives in donations.
Popeyes also plans a second donation to Feed the Front Line NOLA, a local non-profit. The group is paying restaurants to make meals for hospital staff. It estimates it has prepared 50,000 meals in the the past month.
The Popeyes Foundation also has been supporting No Kid Hungry, a non-profit that focuses on feeding children.
Founded in 1972, Popeyes is now owned by Restaurant Brands International, which is based in Toronto. It has about 3,100 restaurants worldwide.
Earlier this month, RBI’s CEO, Jose Cil, published a letter in which he detailed the efforts the brand was making to support local communities, shore up its franchise holders and keep employees at its restaurants safe.