What the cluck? An Etobicoke poultry supplier is suing Popeyes for $35 million

Why did the Ontario chicken supplier cross the road? To launch a $35-million lawsuit against Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Per court documents filed last month, a west-end poultry company called ADP is claiming they lost a contract with Popeyes after calling out unsafe practices from a competitor—an unauthorized seller allegedly operating out of residential garages in Ontario and selling rotten and unsafe raw chicken. (And you thought that noxious odour coming from the alley behind your house was a meth lab!) ADP also alleges that the seller was delivering said unfit-for-human-consumption meat in vehicles that lacked proper refrigeration.

The claimants say their contract, which was supposed to continue to 2027, was nixed when they brought their concerns to the higher-ups at Popeyes. (The chain’s Canadian locations are owned by Restaurant Brands International, the same mega-corp that owns Tim Hortons and the Canadian locations of Burger King.) ADP is also suing Amjad Farooq Inc. (the unauthorized supplier) for $10 million in damages, for interfering with its relationship with Popeyes.

This was unwelcome news for anyone who happened to order a Popeyes Golden BBQ Chicken Sandwich from Uber Eats at 3 a.m. on Saturday (only to find the wrapper crinkled up in their bedsheets yesterday morning).

A representative for Popeyes said there’s “no evidence” to support the claim and that ADP is just “lashing out” after losing its business contract for “legitimate reasons,” though they neglected to specify said reasons. None of the allegations or counter-allegations have been tested in court, and of course there’s the possibility of a settlement if one side decides to back down first. What’s that game called again?