Al Copeland founder of Popeyes chicken has died

Steve · #1 03-27-2008, 04:42 PM

Did you ever hear of Popeyes chicken? The founder of the company just recently died. What a story and what a life he led. I really hope you take a moment to read the article about his life.

Notice how he had many failures but he never gave up.

What are some of your reflections on how Al Copeland has effected your life?

Al Copeland, a Restaurateur Known for Spice and Speed, Dies at 64 - Al Copeland, a poor boy from New Orleans who marshaled gumption, perspicacity and a fiery fried chicken recipe to emerge as a flamboyant multimillionaire with fast speedboats and successive business empires, died Sunday in Germany near Munich. He was 64.

Mr. Copeland opened his first fried chicken stand in 1971 with the chipper slogan, “So fast you get your chicken before you get your change.” The restaurant failed. He retreated to his kitchen to fiddle with his recipe.

Mr. Copeland added more than a sprinkle of cayenne pepper and a few more secret Cajun-inspired hot spices, changed the name to Popeyes (he said he was too poor to afford an apostrophe) and by the end of the 1980s owned or franchised more than 800 of the restaurants.

__________________

- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

Steve · #2 03-27-2008, 04:48 PM

Lawn care business tips

You can read more about Al's life here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Copeland

and here

http://www.nola.com/news....ny.html

__________________

- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

#3 03-28-2008, 12:32 AM

yea, he was a real go getter.
kind of ****y, but when you work as hard as he did you have the right I guess.
He grew up in the ST. Thomas housing project.
Its kinda inspiring to see someone make it starting with nothing. guess thats the true meaning of rags to riches.

Steve · #4 03-28-2008, 08:16 AM

I was reading he used to pay for floats and ride them in Mardi Gras.

Can you imagine at your peak, owning 800 restaurants? WOW! I bet you would be having a real good time too!

#5 03-28-2008, 08:59 PM

yea he actually use his spee boats as floats. it was pretty cool.
gonna be strange without him for marigras an Christmas.

Al Copeland founder of Popeyes chicken has died

Franchise Building, Entrepreneurs, Business Leaders, & Innovators Discussions