Applegreen is preparing to launch a major expansion that will bring hundreds of new jobs to Ireland.

The move comes as part of a deal to open Popeyes restaurants at a number of its motorway service stations and roadside locations.

The Irish forecourt operator said the partnership could create up to 450 positions over the coming years.

The company plans to invest around €6 million in rolling out the American-owned fried chicken chain across its Irish network during the next four years.

The first Popeyes outlet under the agreement is expected to open within weeks at Applegreen’s Midway service area on the M7 near Portlaoise.

Applegreen says the move is part of its strategy to expand the range of food brands available to customers travelling across the country. The company already operates a mix of coffee, convenience, and fast-food offerings at its service stations.

Seamus Stapleton, managing director of Applegreen’s Republic of Ireland business, said the company was excited to bring another major international brand to its Irish locations and described the partnership as a boost for roadside hospitality.

Popeyes Louisiana Fried Chicken has only recently entered the Irish market. Its first standalone restaurant opened in Blanchardstown in early June, with a second outlet planned for Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.

The two companies are no strangers to working together. Applegreen has operated Popeyes restaurants in the United States since 2021 and currently runs 24 locations at travel plazas across several American states.

Applegreen already employs roughly 16,900 people globally and is in the middle of a €1 billion growth programme aimed at expanding and upgrading its network of sites.

The business recorded turnover of nearly €4 billion last year and says it serves around 180 million customers annually.

The first Irish Applegreen Popeyes will open this summer, with additional locations to follow over the next four years.

The rollout is likely to focus on high-traffic motorway stops and travel hubs where demand for quick-service food is strongest.