El Pollo Loco is a Mexican-style restaurant chain known for its grilled chicken.
El Pollo Loco may be the appropriate spot to invest your money if you’re willing to diversify your portfolio and get into franchising.
Here we have discussed some important points related to this El Pollo Loco that will help you understand franchise policies.
About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco’s narrative is unlike that of other successful American restaurant chains.
The brand, which specializes in Mexican-style flame-grilled chicken dishes, began in Mexico and quickly grew throughout the country before crossing the border and establishing its first American branch in Los Angeles.
El Pollo Loco has grown in popularity since then, primarily in the American Southwest.
El Pollo Loco has also diversified its menu, adding burritos and salads to compete with Taco Bell and Del Taco, as well as other Mexican-style restaurant chains. And there’s always El Pollo Loco’s famous salsa bar, with daily fresh salsas.
El Pollo Loco History
Juan Francisco Ochoa started El Pollo Loco as a roadside chicken stands in the little town of Guasave, Mexico, on the Pacific Coast, with a simple menu of fresh chicken marinated in specific herbs, spices, and citrus juices, and Ochoa family recipe, then flame-grilled to perfection.
The restaurant immediately became a local staple, with multiple sites around Northern Mexico.
The first El Pollo Loco opened in Los Angeles in 1980. Denny purchased the American restaurants in the group in 1983, leaving the Ochoas to oversee the Mexican chain.
Since 2005, the chain has changed hands twice and is now owned by Trimaran Capital Partners. There are about 450 outlets under the name.
El Pollo Loco Franchise Model
| Investment | $782K – $2.1M |
| Franchise fee | $40,000 |
| Royalty fee | 4% |
| Industry | Food |
| Area Requirement | N/A |
| Total Outlets | 450 |
Business Opportunity
El Pollo Loco has received various awards and distinctions, including being voted “Best Chicken Place” by Orange County Register voters for nine straight years.
And being named to Franchise Times and Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 lists, to mention a few.
Marketing & Operation Support
They give franchise operations assistance via their Franchise Company Managers, who assist new franchisees in learning about and implementing critical business procedures.
El Pollo Loco’s marketing staff of seasoned administrators and management is committed to offering first-class marketing support, as well as a full range of focused marketing tools and marketing programs, in order to raise awareness and attract buyers into their restaurants.
El Pollo Loco Real Estate & Training
Their skilled real estate team will help you to discover the finest possible sites for your restaurants through market planning and site selection.
Their franchise training specialists provide seven weeks of pre-opening training to new franchisees and restaurant managers, as well as ongoing training for crew and management.
El Pollo Loco Location
Their team is dedicated to assisting franchisees in locating the most suitable locations for new businesses.
When suitable sites are submitted, their real estate experts will analyze all relevant site information to assist in the selection of the ideal location.
El Pollo Loco Financial Requirement
El Pollo Loco mandates that franchisees have at least five years of experience in the restaurant sector as an owner or operators/managers.
They also need that the potential franchisee lives in the El Pollo Loco development region so that they can operate the branch daily.
El Pollo Loco Comparison
| Company | El Pollo Loco | Chipotle |
|---|---|---|
| Founded In | 1980 | 1993 |
| Initial Investment | $782K – $2.1M | $800,000 – $1,000,000 |
| Franchise-Fee | $40,000 | $20,000 to $75,000 |
| Total Outlets | 450 | 2189 |
| Annual Revenue | $96.4 Million | $5 billion |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is El Pollo loco owned by?
American securities capital partners L.P.
How many chickens does El Pollo use a day?
147 full chickens
Who is the CEO of El Pollo Loco?
Bernard Acoca
Does El Pollo Loco Offer Franchises?
El Pollo Loco is a Mexican-style restaurant known for its grilled chicken, and yes, it offers franchises.
How much does an El Pollo Loco Franchise Cost?
El Pollo Loco requires a franchise fee of $40,000, with an initial investment range of $782K – $2.1M.
Amit Gupta is the founder of DrFranchises – a digital marketing agency that helps brands rank better on Google Maps through local SEO strategies. Amit has over 11 years of experience in digital marketing, SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing. He’s also the owner of multiple franchises and has helped countless brands achieve success online. When he’s not working, Amit can be found playing with his dog.