Popeyes franchisees are alleged to have sourced spoiled chicken from a seller operating outside official channels.
ERIC GAY/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A former food supplier for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has accused the fast-food chain of buying chicken from an unauthorized seller operating out of residential garages in Ontario, which did not submit to food safety inspections and in some cases sold “rotten” and “unsafe” meat to Canadian Popeyes restaurants.
Popeyes, which is owned by Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International Inc. QSR-T, says it has found “no evidence” to support the allegations.
Popeyes and RBI, which is also the parent company of Tim Hortons and Burger King, were named as defendants in a statement of claim filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on May 26 by ADP Direct Poultry Ltd., a former supplier of raw chicken products to Popeyes. ADP says it lost its contract with Popeyes after bringing its concerns to the company’s attention.
