Continue to Site >>>

El Pollo Loco

Financing

How El Pollo Loco is winning the value-profitability battle

 By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 05, 2025

A Deeper Dive: Liz Williams, CEO of the chicken chain, joins the weekly restaurant finance podcast to talk about the fast-food brand’s plans for beverages, value and growth outside of California.

Financing

El Pollo Loco threads the profitability needle

 By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 31, 2025

The fast-food chicken chain gave its customers value, which generated traffic but not sales. But restaurant-level profits grew, too. And then results improved in October. The company's stock skyrocketed.

Financing

Consumers want to spend, but they can't, said El Pollo Loco CEO

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 01, 2025

Fresca Wraps and quesadillas have helped boost traffic, but the fast-casual chain's second quarter was mixed. Will the return of chicken tenders and sandwiches goose second half results?

Financing

CapitalSpring may get involved in an El Pollo Loco sale

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 02, 2025

The private-equity firm has taken a stake in the chicken chain and the two are talking about a “potential extraordinary transaction” as an investor or financier, increasing the chances of a sale.

Financing

El Pollo Loco looks to grow, mostly outside of California

By Jonathan Maze on May 02, 2025

The fast-food chicken chain plans 10 new restaurants this year, which would be its most since 2022. The company is looking to second-generation locations to expand at lower costs.

Financing

Sardar Biglari takes a more traditional acquisition route with El Pollo Loco

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 08, 2025

The Bottom Line: The investor used activist campaigns to take over both Western Sizzlin and Steak n Shake. But he is making a more traditional play for the fast-food chicken chain.

Financing

Sardar Biglari is trying to buy El Pollo Loco

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 07, 2025

The chairman of the owner of Steak n Shake has made an offer to buy the fast-food chicken chain and entered into a confidentiality agreement with the company as negotiations continue.

Operations

El Pollo Loco needs a rebrand, but not of its food, CEO says

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 07, 2025

The fast-casual chicken chain is heading into a year of new marketing that will focus on culinary innovation and getting lapsed customers back.

Food

El Pollo Loco may finally jump into the chicken sandwich wars

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 14, 2025

The fast-casual grilled, bone-in chicken chain hasn't had a chicken sandwich for years, even when everyone else launched one. But it's testing one now.

Operations

El Pollo Loco finds value-hunters want even more value

By Lisa Jennings on Nov. 01, 2024

The fast-casual grilled-chicken chain launches a $5 Taco Tuesday promotion to spark trial after traffic plummets 7.6% in third quarter.

  • Page 1