Popeyes Sales Keep Falling. Can Value Deals Win Louisianans Back?

A $6 Big Box. A $5 Faves menu. A $20 Family Meal.

Popeyes is pushing deals like these, while sales at its established U.S. restaurants have been falling.

Here’s what the latest numbers show, and whether value deals can win Louisianans back.

Note: This is general information, not financial advice. Menu prices and promotions are subject to change.

The Earnings Release

Restaurant Brands International owns Popeyes.

Its earnings release covers the three months that ended June 30, 2026.

It shows Popeyes’ U.S. comparable sales 5.2% below the same quarter of 2025.

Think of it this way.

For every $100 that established restaurants took in a year earlier, they took in about $94.80 this time.

A year earlier, that same quarter showed a 0.9% decline. So this year’s drop is bigger.

The first quarter of 2026 was steeper, with comparable sales down 6.5%, after a 4.0% decline in the first quarter of 2025.

It narrowed, but kept going.

Over the first six months of the year, Popeyes’ U.S. comparable sales are down 5.8%.

In the first half of 2025, they were down 2.4%.

Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN) reports that the second quarter was the sixth straight quarterly decline for the chain.

That is a year and a half of slipping sales.

Popeyes’ revenue and adjusted operating income both fell in the second quarter. Restaurant Brands says falling comparable sales were the main reason.

Revenue came to $199 million, down from $210 million.

That is $11 million less.

Adjusted operating income fell to $63 million from $66 million.

The Value Menus

Popeyes added a $5 Faves menu and a $20 Family Meal this year, NRN reports.

They sit on top of its $6 Big Box.

NRN also reports that the $6 Big Box returned for the second time in under three months.

NRN reports that on the second-quarter call, the chief executive told analysts Popeyes would keep pushing simple value.

The chief executive also said value deals had worked about as expected, maybe a little better.

That approach had helped bring traffic back and stabilize sales, NRN reports.

On Aug. 31, Popeyes said its $6 Big Box was relaunching alongside a national brand campaign inspired by a Louisiana kitchen.

The campaign began rolling out nationally that day, on TV, social and digital channels, Popeyes said.

Popeyes says the main ad features a New Orleans brass band anthem.

Popeyes also announced three pineapple drinks that start at $3.49.

If a combo changes what you’d normally order, it may not suit you.

If you’re eyeing the Big Box, the announcement lists Popeyes’ hand-battered chicken, two sides and a biscuit.

Restaurant Prices Overall

Popeyes' deals arrive in a year when restaurant prices are up, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The BLS says its food away from home index rose 3.4% over the 12 months ending in August 2026.

So a $100 restaurant check from a year ago would cost about $103.40 now.

Within that index, limited-service meals rose 3.2% and full-service meals rose 3.5%.

In the South, a region that includes Louisiana, the same index rose 2.9%.

Those figures cover all restaurants, not just Popeyes.

A price index tracks what restaurant food costs. Comparable sales track what a chain took in at its established restaurants.

Many customers weigh a value deal against their usual order.

To check a combo, add up the same items ordered one at a time.

Then compare that total with the bundle's price.

The Next Report

You'll see Popeyes' next comparable sales figure on Thursday, Oct. 29. That's when Restaurant Brands plans to release third-quarter results.

NRN reports that executives expect the second half of this year to turn positive for the chain.

They said so on the second-quarter call.