RETAILING
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Pioneer Chicken Switches to Popeyes: All 82 of the Pioneer Chicken fast-food outlets in Southern California will become Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits restaurants. Los Angeles-based Pioneer will also develop at least 82 more Popeyes outlets in the Southland as part of a deal with America’s Favorite Chicken Co. of Atlanta, the parent of Popeyes. “Pioneer Chicken is looking at this move as a fresh start and an opportunity to grow with a well-known, well-operated international chicken chain,” said Rod Jarboe, president of Pioneer, which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy a year ago.