Popeyes franchisee Sailormen files for Chapter 11 in Florida

Miami-based Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchisee Sailormen has filed for Chapter 11 alleviation successful the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.

In the filing, the institution cited the prolonged effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures, precocious borrowing rates and an "increasingly constricted qualified labour force" arsenic cardinal factors down the bankruptcy.

In the fiscal twelvemonth ending 2025, Sailormen reported much than $233m successful income and incurred a nett operating nonaccomplishment of astir $19m.

The determination comes aft the institution sought to easiness its fiscal strain by selling 16 Popeyes restaurants successful 2023. According to tribunal documents, the transaction, however, collapsed, leaving the institution liable for the leases tied to those sites.

Sailormen presently operates 136 Popeyes restaurants successful Florida and Georgia.

The filings stated that arsenic of 15 January 2026, the institution employed 3,306 employees, including 3,272 hourly workers.

It has not indicated whether immoderate locations whitethorn adjacent arsenic a effect of the restructuring.

The records authorities that Sailormen was formed successful 1984 “for the intent of owning and operating Popeyes restaurants”.

In July 1987, businessmen Bob Berg and Steve Wemple acquired the company, which ran 11 Popeyes stores successful the Miami country astatine that point.

From 1995 done the extremity of 2000, Sailormen expanded into respective further markets, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi.

Between 2012 and 2018, the institution sold its operations successful Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi, with the tribunal documents noting that the determination was intended to absorption connected caller edifice improvement successful Florida and Georgia.

Interfoods of America holds 100% ownership of Sailormen’s outstanding superior stock.

"Popeyes franchisee Sailormen files for Chapter 11 successful Florida" was primitively created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.

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