Applegreen is our Company of the Month for June 2026, in association with KPMG. The company is expanding its partnership with Popeyes by investing €6 million to bring the fast-food chain to Ireland, creating new employment opportunities and strengthening its presence in the Irish retail and food service market.
Applegreen is set to create 450 new jobs following an agreement as the Irish company opens a series of Popeyes chicken restaurants.
Applegreen is the leading roadside retailer encompassing food, fuel and convenience offerings. Since their first store in Dublin opened in 1992, the company has expanded to become the largest motorway service area operator in both Ireland and the US with an annual turnover of more than €3.3 billion.
Applegreen currently employs approximately 16,900 people and is pursuing growth across all its key markets through a €1 billion expansion programme. The company generated nearly €4 billion in turnover last year and serves around 180 million customers each year.
Under the new agreement, Applegreen will invest approximately €6 million to open Popeyes restaurants at several of its Irish locations over the next four years. The first Popeyes restaurant opened at Midway on 26 June with giveaways to the first 100 customers.
Since launching in the UK in 2021, Popeyes has expanded to more than 110 restaurants, employing 3,500 people and generating over £118 million in sales in 2024, up from £15 million in 2022. The brand was also recognised as Europe’s fastest-growing food and beverage company in the Financial Times’ latest FT1000 ranking.
Applegreen has partnered with Popeyes in the United States since 2021 and now operates 24 Popeyes restaurants at locations in Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
“We are delighted to add Popeyes to our growing portfolio of high-quality brands in the Irish market,” Seamus Stapleton, Managing Director of Applegreen’s Republic of Ireland business, said. “At Applegreen, we’re committed to raising the bar for roadside hospitality and offering great food and world‑class service to people on the move. Popeyes is a fantastic addition to the Applegreen offer.”
Company of the Month
The Company of the Month Award, in association with KPMG, recognises outstanding Irish companies. It especially acknowledges those who have made significant contributions to the business community of Ireland.
Recipients of the award are automatically put forward as candidates for the prestigious Company of the Year Award at the annual Business & Finance Awards.
Attend the Awards
The awards ceremony holds an important date for Irish and international business and political leaders, as we recognise those paving the way for business excellence on the island of Ireland and beyond. Given demand, table availability is limited. For Partnership opportunities, contact brian.kearns@businessandfinance.com.
For more information on the annual Business & Finance Awards, see www.businessandfinanceawards.com.
Business & Finance, Company of the Month
Business & Finance, in association with KPMG, recognises excellence in business through the ‘Company of the Month’ award. The Company of the Month award recognises the company that best demonstrates outstanding business leadership, sustainable growth, innovative strategy, strong financial returns, and employee development.
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