By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Tsavoussis brothers will next month unveil their third Bahamian food franchise with the launch of a $2 million ‘Popeyes’ restaurant on Prince Charles Drive, a move which will create around 100 jobs.

The brothers’ Aetos Holdings vehicle already owns and operates the Wendy’s and Marco’s Pizza franchises in the Bahamas, and the addition of the American fried chicken chain to their portfolio will see them compete with the likes of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Bamboo Shack.

Tribune Business was told that the 4,000 square foot Popeyes flagship eatery will be located on the north side of Prince Charles Drive, before the intersection with Fox Hill Road.

The restaurant is currently being constructed opposite ‘Everything Must Go’, the retail outlet located in the former Robin Hood store. It is expected to open by the first week of December with 100 staff, including eight managers.

    A job fair was held yesterday for the available positions at Popeyes, with company executives telling Tribune Business that they were in the process of screening close to 500 applicants.

Those individuals who have been hired are expected to be notified by tomorrow, with staff training to begin next week under the supervision of local and international trainers.

The acquisition of the Popeyes franchise gives the Tsavoussis brothers and Aetos Holdings a ‘chicken’ franchise to pair with their existing ‘fast food’ hamburger and pizza offerings.

They are now competing heavily with George Myers, and the Myers Group, and BISX-listed AML Foods and its Domino’s Pizza and Carl’s Jnr brands, to become the dominant player in the Bahamas’ fast food franchise market.

The restaurant and food franchise industry appears, along with web shop gaming, to currently be one of the few growing and job-creating industries within the Bahamian economy.

AML Foods is understood to be preparing to launch its second Carls’ Jnr outlet on Carmichael Road, while Margaritaville recently attracted hundreds of Bahamians to its own job fair, prior to the launch of its first Bahamas venture on Paradise Island.

Fast food franchises have tended to be relatively successful in the Bahamas, partly due to local eating habits and brand recognition, but also due to the support they receive from the international franchisor.

Modelled after Popeyes’ new international design, the flagship restaurants décor will show the heritage and vibrancy of New Orleans, and the tradition of infusing exotic spice blends.

Chris Tsavoussis said yesterday: “It was Popeye’s brand pillar of ‘quality’ and the strength of the brand’s strategic growth plan that first caught our interest.

“Just last week Popeyes opened it’s 2,500th restaurant in Puerto Rico. The company has an uncompromising approach to delivering excellence in operations and customer service, and with that kind of focus and commitment on both a local and international level, we are very optimistic about the brand’s performance.”

    Terry Tsavoussis added: “Customers will find the Louisiana-style of seasoning and cooking to be extremely palatable and similar to our own.

“Popeyes takes the concept of perfecting the flavour of every aspect of a meal to a whole new level. As business people and operators we immediately recognised this as a huge upsell that would delight and build loyalty with our consumers.”