IRVINE, Calif. – El Pollo Loco inked a series of multiunit development agreements to open 61 new locations in Georgia, Missouri, Arizona, Virginia and Utah.
In its largest franchise development agreement since announcing plans in 2004 to expand outside of its West Coast base, El Pollo Loco recently announced an arrangement with Fiesta Brands Inc. to open 25 locations over the next seven years in the Atlanta DMA. Chris Elliott, chief executive of Fiesta Brands, is the former chief operating officer of Church's Chicken and former president of Cinnabon. His partner, Joe Uhl, is the former president of JRM, the largest Cinnabon franchise partner.
Other recent development agreements announced by El Pollo Loco include a 10-unit agreement in Norfolk, Va., a three-unit agreement in Williamsburg and Newport News, Va., an agreement for six units in St. Louis, Mo., one for 15 units in Utah and another agreement for two locations in Yuma, Arizona. In addition, the company has a pipeline of franchise restaurant commitments in California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Oregon and Washington.
