Miami-based Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchisee Sailormen has filed for Chapter 11 relief in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.

In the filing, the company cited the prolonged effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures, high borrowing rates and an "increasingly limited qualified labour force" as key factors behind the bankruptcy.

In the fiscal year ending 2025, Sailormen reported more than $233m in sales and incurred a net operating loss of nearly $19m.

The move comes after the company sought to ease its financial strain by selling 16 Popeyes restaurants in 2023. According to court documents, the transaction, however, collapsed, leaving the company responsible for the leases tied to those sites.

Sailormen currently operates 136 Popeyes restaurants in Florida and Georgia.

The filings stated that as of 15 January 2026, the company employed 3,306 employees, including 3,272 hourly workers.

It has not indicated whether any locations may close as a result of the restructuring.

The records state that Sailormen was formed in 1984 “for the purpose of owning and operating Popeyes restaurants”.

In July 1987, businessmen Bob Berg and Steve Wemple acquired the company, which ran 11 Popeyes stores in the Miami area at that point.

From 1995 through the end of 2000, Sailormen expanded into several additional markets, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi.

Between 2012 and 2018, the company sold its operations in Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi, with the court documents noting that the move was intended to focus on new restaurant development in Florida and Georgia.

Interfoods of America holds 100% ownership of Sailormen’s outstanding capital stock.