APT Announces Partnership with Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc.

Applied Predictive Technologies (APT) announced that Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., the world’s second-largest Quick-Service Restaurant chicken concept based on number of units, has signed an agreement to license APT’s Test & Learn® Management System. Popeyes is using APT to test strategic initiatives across its network of more than 1,700 domestic restaurants. With this agreement, Popeyes joins over 30 industry-leading restaurant brands, such Wendy’s®, SUBWAY®, and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers®, that use APT’s cloud-based Test & Learn® software to evaluate a wide range of business initiatives, including menu strategies, pricing, marketing and media, labor and operations, and capital investments.

To accurately optimize large dollar investments, from media to remodels to pricing, restaurants are increasingly leveraging Test & Learn®, the process of trying an idea in some markets, in some restaurants, or with some customers and comparing the performance of a “test” group to the performance of an optimally-matched “control” group. “Unfortunately, the process of designing, executing, and analyzing tests in the real world is extremely challenging, due to a constant slew of concurrent initiatives in market at any given time, weekly sales volatility, and differences between restaurants and markets,” said John Howard, Senior Vice President at APT.

To overcome the inherent challenges of measuring in-market initiatives, an increasing number of restaurant organizations are now leveraging APT’s cloud-based Test & Learn® software. Mr. Howard said, “Test & Learn® helps executives answer three key questions about any proposed idea before they take the risk of rolling it out network wide: First, will the idea work? Second, will it work better in some restaurants or in some markets than others? And finally, how can we tailor and target the idea for maximum profitability upon rollout?”

APT’s software suite for restaurants also includes tools to visually explore restaurant performance data, improve the menu, determine the profile of the best performing sites, and measure price elasticity.

During an initial pilot project with APT, Popeyes used APT’s Test & Learn® software to determine the incremental impact of investments across local and national media, remodels, and value initiatives.

“APT’s Test & Learn® software has significantly increased our internal data analytics capabilities. Using APT, we have an enhanced perspective of the incremental impact of our media investments, despite the large number of other factors, such as recent reimages, that also impact performance,” said Suzanne Miller, VP of Field Marketing and Media at Popeyes. “The APT software enables us to better understand the results of both national and local incremental media investments in individual markets, which will guide our media planning strategy going forward.”

Mr. Howard added, “We are thrilled that Popeyes has decided to adapt the gold standard in Big Data analytics: Test & Learn®. We look forward to a partnership with Popeyes as they continually seek to deliver delicious food and an outstanding guest experience.”

About APT

APT is the world’s largest purely cloud-based predictive analytics software company. APT’s Test & Learn® software is revolutionizing the way Global 2000 companies harness their Big Data to accurately measure the profit impact of pricing, marketing, merchandising, operations, and capital initiatives, tailoring investments in these areas to maximize ROI. APT’s client portfolio features the world’s best known brands, including Walmart, Staples, Lowe’s, Starbucks, Victoria’s Secret, Hilton Hotels, and others. APT has offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Bentonville, London, Tokyo, and Taipei. Visit www.predictivetechnologies.com to learn more.

About Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc.

Founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Popeyes is a leader in the New Orleans segment of the foodservice industry and is the world’s second largest quick-service chicken concept based on the number of units. As of July 13, 2014, Popeyes had 2,262 operating restaurants in the United States, three territories, and 26 foreign countries. For more information, visit the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen website at www.popeyes.com.