29d • General discussion
Story Of Popeyes and Al Copeland
⚜️ New Orleans Icons - Al Copeland ⚜️
🤩 LOVE THAT CHICKEN FROM POPEYES 🤩
⚜️ Alvin Charles Copeland was born on February 2, 1944. ⚜️
⚜️ Copeland had a humble beginning with his family living at one point in the St. Thomas public housing project.⚜️
⚜️ Copeland's father left the family shortly after Alvin ("Al"), the youngest of three sons, was born. ⚜️
⚜️ Copeland did not complete high school, having left at 16. ⚜️
⚜️ He worked at Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets store in Gentilly as a soda jerk and then for Tastee Donut, a doughnut chain partially owned by his brother, Gil. ⚜️
⚜️ At 18, Copeland sold his car to purchase one doughnut location from his brother. ⚜️
⚜️ This experience exposed him to the restaurant business and franchising. ⚜️
⚜️ While Copeland never completed high school, he used his wealth to benefit education programs, including establishing the Alvin C. Copeland Endowed Chair of Franchising at Louisiana State University, providing funding for the Delgado Community College chef apprentice program, and supporting the National Food Service Institute. ⚜️
⚜️ He had nine children – five sons and four daughters – by four wives. ⚜️
⚜️ His eldest son, Al Copeland Jr., became the CEO of Al Copeland Investments, of which he is also the chairman, in 2003. ⚜️
Copeland became a New Orleans icon due to his flamboyant lifestyle, including his eponymous power boat racing teams, extravagant weddings, and his annual Christmas light show at his mansion located in an upscale neighborhood in Metairie.
⭐️ Popeyes Chicken ⭐️
⚜️ In 1972, Al Copeland founded the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits fast food chain in the New Orleans suburb of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish. ⚜️
⚜️ Copeland began franchising his restaurant in 1976, opening the first franchise restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ⚜️
⚜️ Approximately 500 outlets were added over the next 10 years, followed by 200 more during a period of slower expansion. ⚜️
⚜️ In March 1989, Popeyes, then the third-largest chicken chain, purchased Church's Chicken, the second largest. ⚜️
⚜️ The parent company, Al Copeland Enterprises, operated both chains separately. Combined, the company had over 2,000 locations. ⚜️
⚜️ Criticism of the merger included the resulting presence of competing locations. ⚜️
⚜️ Efforts were made to close under-performing stores and sell franchises; however, operational improvements could not overcome financial burdens resulting from the merger ⚜️
⚜️ The Church's purchase was heavily financed with the security being the assets of Popeyes and the acquired company. ⚜️
⚜️ In 1990, Al Copeland Enterprises had $391 million in debts. ⚜️
⚜️ The debt reached more than $400 million by April 1991 when Copeland filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the company. ⚜️
⚜️ Creditors had petitioned for involuntary bankruptcy and efforts to have the petition dismissed had failed. ⚜️
⚜️ In October 1992, the bankruptcy court approved a plan submitted by a group of Copeland's creditors that created America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. (aka AFC). ⚜️
⚜️ AFC served as the new parent company for Popeyes and Church's. ⚜️
⚜️ Although Copeland lost Popeyes in the bankruptcy, he retained the rights to some Popeyes recipes and products. ⚜️
⚜️ He manufactured the spices through his Diversified Foods & Seasonings plants located in Metairie, Madisonville, New Orleans, Mobile, San Antonio, and Nebraska City. ⚜️
⚜️ The Diversified Foods & Seasonings contract with Popeyes extends through 2025. ⚜️
⚜️ In December 2007, Copeland began treatment for a malignant tumor of the salivary glands, caused by Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare form of cancer. ⚜️
⚜️ Copeland had sought experimental treatments in Germany but died in Munich on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, at the age of 64. ⚜️
⚜️ He was buried in Metairie Cemetery.⚜️
⚜️ In 2008 the Al Copeland Foundation was established under his name. ⚜️
⚜️ It provides cancer services primarily at Louisiana State University (LSU) and established the Al Copeland/Cancer Crusaders Endowed chair in Endocrine Cancer at LSU in 2011.
⭐️ Photos by: BY G. ANDREW BOYD / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE ⭐️
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Story Of Popeyes and Al Copeland
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