“That’s two orange Americans too many”
Popeyes at Avonmeads in Bristol
The arrival of the first branch of Popeyes Louisiana fried chicken establishments in Bristol today was met by queues around the building, people sleeping their cars – and a very cheeky riposte from the city’s long-established fried chicken chain.
Miss Millie’s the very Bristol chain of fried chicken shops have taken out a digital ad on the billboard just yards from the new Popeyes, starting a beef with the new upstarts.
The digital ad is currently showing to drivers on the southbound St Philips Causeway on the flyover next to the Avonmeads Retail Park, where US chain Popeyes opened its first fried chicken restaurant on Friday morning, April 11.
The US chain, with its distinctive orange branding, are on a massive expansion programme in the UK, but bringing their version of fried chicken to the home of Miss Millie’s appears to have started a bit of beef.
The cheeky ad reads: “Trump? Popeyes? That’s two orange Americans too many,” and alongside the Miss Millie’s logo is the strapline “We’re Bristol born and breaded since 1988”.
An ad for Miss Millie’s fried chicken over the Avonmeads retail park in Bristol where US chain Popeyes opened on Friday, April 11(Image: Duchess Media)
Miss Millie’s, famously, was started by Harry Latham back in 1988 after he spent more than 20 years as Colonel Sanders’ right-hand man, bringing KFC from America to Britain from 1965.
READ MORE: Inside new Popeyes chicken spot with exclusive ‘shatter crunch’ chicken
Harry, a Bristolian, started his own chain of fried chicken shops – named after Colonel Sanders’ daughter Mildred – in his home town and beyond, and the firm remained in the family with Harry’s daughters until 2018, a year before Harry passed away.
With the arrival of Popeyes, Miss Millie’s wanted to mark the occasion and remind Bristolians who the OG fried chicken kings – or queens – are in the city.
Colonel Sanders and Harry Latham
The ad went live even before today’s big Popeyes opening at 11am, and will run for the rest of the weekend. “We wanted to welcome Popeyes to the city with a bit of Bristol charm,” said a spokesperson for Miss Millie’s.
“We’re so proud of how fiercely independent the city is, and to have been part of it for so long, so we thought we’d give them a proper Bristol welcome.”