Franchising

El Pollo Loco multi-unit franchisees adding locations

Provided

February 16, 2021

El Pollo Loco Inc. has signed development agreements with two existing franchisees in Louisiana and Southern California.

Peglion LLC — El Pollo Loco's second-largest franchisee with 34 restaurants in Southern California — has committed to opening three locations in the San Diego area, and Listo Way Group LLC, which opened its first location in 2018 in Lafayette, Louisiana, will add two units over the next few years in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles.

"We are thrilled to continue developing our presence in Louisiana and Southern California, especially alongside two existing franchisee partners," Chief Development Officer Brian Carmichall said in a company press release. "With franchise development being such a vital part of our company's strategic growth plan, we put tremendous value on our relationships with our franchisees and realize that we wouldn't be where we are without them."

The restaurants will feature El Pollo Loco's new L.A. Mex image design featuring an enhanced digitized experience — including "Pollo To Go" cubbies for mobile to-go and delivery orders, digital menu boards and GPS-enabled curbside pick-up, all integrated with the company's dynamic and versatile mobile app.

The announcements come at a time when El Pollo Loco is looking to expand its national footprint. Over the next few years, the plan is to remodel more than 300 of the brand's 478 existing restaurants with the new prototype designs and develop 140 new restaurants in previously untapped markets such as Denver, Colorado Springs and Albuquerque.