Popeyes Supplier Alleges ‘Unsafe’ Chicken Stored in Garages Sold Across Ontario
ONTARIO — A former poultry supplier has launched a $35 million lawsuit against Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and its parent company, alleging that unauthorized chicken—some expired and improperly stored—was distributed to Popeyes locations across Ontario.
The claim, filed by ADP Direct Poultry Ltd. on May 26 in Ontario Superior Court, accuses Popeyes, its parent company Restaurant Brands International (RBI), and its supply chain partner Restaurant Services Canada Inc. (RSCI) of enabling unsafe practices by allowing franchisees to source poultry from an unauthorized supplier operating out of residential garages.
According to the lawsuit, raw chicken was stored and packaged in private garages, delivered without proper refrigeration, and sold to Popeyes customers despite failing to meet food safety standards. The lawsuit alleges some of the poultry was even expired and never inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) or any other regulatory body.
ADP claims it lost its supply contract with Popeyes after flagging concerns about the unauthorized distributor. Rather than investigate the issue thoroughly, the lawsuit alleges, RSCI worked with certain franchisees to remove ADP from the approved suppliers list. Some franchisees allegedly retaliated by filing misleading complaints about ADP’s product quality.
Under Popeyes policy, franchisees are required to buy from approved suppliers who meet rigorous health and quality benchmarks. However, ADP alleges some Ontario locations violated this policy in pursuit of cheaper meat.
In total, ADP is seeking more than $45 million in damages, including:
- $30 million in lost profits
- $5 million for facility upgrades made in anticipation of rising demand
- $10 million from the unauthorized supplier
- $500,000 in aggravated damages
- $150,000 from each named franchisee
ADP is also requesting a full accounting of how much unauthorized chicken was purchased and the profit made from its sale.
The CFIA, while not responsible for restaurant inspections, has the authority to investigate food products if health risks are identified.
As of now, none of the allegations have been proven in court. Popeyes and its parent companies have not publicly responded to the claims.