AFC Enterprises this morning said that same-store sales at its Popeyes chain grew 6 percent, performance which is notably positive given that its competitors in the bone-in chicken market have performed lousy of late. We can list a variety of reasons for Popeyes' outperformance. The company focuses on franchisee profitability. It worked on improving speed of service. It invested in marketing and innovation during the recession. Popeyes has promoted heavily its portable boneless chicken and seafood products that are increasingly popular among a bone-weary dining public. And its CEO is paranoid about competition. "We wake up scared to death every day," CEO Cheryl Bachelder said today at the Cowen & Company Consumer Conference. That might not be healthy for her health, but it's tough to argue with the results.