It Was Fun While it Lasted: Popeyes Has Officially Sold Out of Its New Chicken Sandwich

It appears that Popeyes is struggling to keep up with the huge popularity of its new Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

The chicken chain tweeted today, “Y’all. We love that you love The Sandwich. Unfortunately, we’re sold out (for now).” The tweet was accompanied by a video explaining that the menu item would soon be back for good. Twitter users weren’t happy, with one user tweeting, “How can a chicken restaurant run out of chicken?”

Since its debut in early August, the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, including a viral Twitter beef that involved Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s and other fast-food brands. Following the success of Popeyes’ offering, McDonald’s even announced that they were entering the chicken sandwich game for the first time in years. 

Almost immediately after the release, Popeyes reported chicken sandwich shortages at select locations across the country. Users all over Twitter posted videos of long lines and sold-out notices as they struggled to get their hands on the elusive sandwich. In fact, a customer in Maryland even tried to sell one of the chicken sandwiches for $100 after his local Popeyes sold out—a gesture that somehow doesn’t seem as crazy now. 

Just like Taco Bell’s tortilla shortage earlier this year, Popeyes shortage highlights how important suppliers are to a food company’s operations and the success of franchisees. While the jury is still out if 2019 will prove to be the year of the chicken sandwich, it is clear that the internet is a powerful tool when it comes to brand awareness and marketing. 

For fans who are eager to try the sandwich, Popeyes recommends downloading its app to receive a notification the moment the item is back in stores.