Why Popeyes Sales Keep Falling: 7 Straight Quarters, Fewer Wings and a New Plan

Short answer: Popeyes' US same-store sales fell 2.2% in the third quarter of 2026, its seventh quarter in a row of declines, after a 5.2% drop in Q2. Parent company Restaurant Brands International (RBI) says a return to growth will take longer than planned. To simplify kitchens, Popeyes is scaling back its wings to focus on bone-in chicken, tenders and sandwiches, and its chief marketing officer was let go in late October. Meanwhile Burger King's US sales rose 8.4%.

How bad is the Popeyes sales decline?

The Q3 drop was smaller than Q2's, and RBI says guest satisfaction scores for value and food quality improved through 2026. Satisfaction with its core chicken is at a record high, according to RBI. But traffic is still well below the chain's peak.

Is Popeyes getting rid of wings?

Scaling them back, not removing every wing. On RBI's October 29 earnings call, CEO Josh Kobza said Popeyes made "a deliberate decision to scale back our Wings offering." He said wings "add to operational complexity," and simplifying them lets the chain focus on bone-in chicken, tenders and sandwiches.

Popeyes had expanded wings to three sauces and four dry rubs in August 2025, and Sweet 'N Spicy wings were its most popular launch since the 2019 chicken sandwich. Popeyes hasn't published a list of which flavors are leaving. If your favorite flavor disappears from the app, that's why.

What else is changing at Popeyes?

• New marketing leadership. Chief marketing officer Matt Rubin was dismissed in late October after about a year in the job.
• Value push. Popeyes brought back the $6 Big Box in September, but RBI said it didn't add much in sales.
• Fewer, simpler items so restaurants can serve faster and more consistently.
• Franchisee trouble. A large Popeyes franchisee went through bankruptcy, and five buyers picked up 97 of its restaurants.

Is Popeyes going out of business?

No. Popeyes still has thousands of US restaurants and RBI is investing in a turnaround. Individual restaurants have closed, mostly through franchisee problems, but there's no chainwide shutdown.

What it means when you order

• Expect fewer wing flavors over time.
• The chicken sandwich, tenders and bone-in chicken are the focus, so look for deals there.
• For current prices, see Popeyes menu prices, and for the holidays, the Popeyes Cajun-style turkey.