Popeyes sparks fast food war with McDonald’s as snack wrap release date announced

Popeyes is unleashing its competitive side after adding Chicken Wraps to its menus this week – as McDonald’s finally announced the return date of the beloved Snack Wrap.

Popeyes’ Chicken Wraps come with lettuce, shredded cheese, and pickles with a choice of Classic, Spicy, or Honey Mustard sauce.  

‘We wanted to create a Chicken Wrap that was undeniably Popeyes,’ said the chain’s VP of Culinary Innovation Amy Alarcon.

The wraps, available for a limited time, include nearly every ingredient one sees on McDonald’s beloved Snack Wraps.

The McDonald’s item had been a longtime fan favorite item that customers have been waiting for since its 2016 discontinuation.

The item, which came with the choice of ranch or honey mustard, was made of grilled or crispy chicken, lettuce, and shredded cheese.

The new McDonald’s wrap, which will come with a spicy or ranch spread, is set to return at participating locations on July 10, the chain announced Tuesday.

While thousands of customers have been reacting to McDonald’s Snack Wraps, Popeyes has been busy hinting its intentions to beat the restaurant chain in a fast food war.

Popeyes new Chicken Wraps are available to purchase now at participating locations nationwide for $3.99

McDonald’s ranch or spicy-flavored Snack Wraps will be available to purchase at participating locations on July 10

Popeyes began its quest on May 30 by mimicking a cryptic X post McDonald’s made in April.

McDonald’s wrote ‘Snack wraps 0x14.2025,’ making customers believe they would return on the 14th of a month this year.

The chicken chain responded on May 30 with ‘chicken wraps 0x.02.2025,’ which signaled the item would appear in two days on June 2. 

Popeyes also responded to this morning’s Snack Wrap announcement from McDonald’s by writing ‘… y’all good?.’

The brand poked fun at the length of the McDonald’s social media announcement, writing: ‘i ain’t reading all that – i’m happy for u tho – or sorry that happened.’

As of now, McDonald’s has yet to clap back, but its fans were more than thrilled to finally learn the Snack Wrap’s release date.

Popeyes fans were also excited to try one of its Chicken Wraps and were intrigued by the chains’ relationship.

‘Popeyes and McDonalds beefing was not on my bingo card,’ an X user wrote.

Popeyes’ Chicken Wraps come with lettuce, shredded cheese, and pickles with a choice of Classic, Spicy, or Honey Mustard sauce

Social media users either rooted for McDonald’s or Popeyes, while others were entertained by the disses

The battle between McDonald’s and Popeyes is nothing new in the fast food world.

The restaurant chains challenged one another back in 2019 during the early years of the chicken sandwich wars.

Popeyes had already been in a battle with Chick-fil-A over the brands’ chicken sandwiches. McDonald’s took it to another level by launching a Spicy BBQ Chicken Sandwich.

Fast-forward five years into the future, and both restaurant chains are going head-to-head in $5 Meal Deals.

McDonald’s is still looking to outdo Popeyes in the chicken category and is currently working on three C-suite roles to analyze menu items in three categories: beef, chicken, and beverages and desert.

While the two are competing, McDonald’s and Popeyes have one thing in common: low first quarter sales this year.

Popeyes’ same-store sales dropped 4 percent, while McDonald’s US sales fell by 3.6 percent.

The restaurant chains have not let slipping sales drag them down and, like other fast food brands, are continuing to fight for top dollar.