Nation’s Leading Grilled Chicken Franchise is Only U.S. Chain to Receive Top Honor
El Pollo Loco, the nation’s leading grilled chicken franchise with 361 locations, announced today that it was selected as the nation’s sole recipient of the esteemed Leadership in Franchise Management Award, presented by Nation’s Restaurant News at the Franchise Excellence Awards reception on March 28th at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, AZ.
The Franchise Excellence Awards, awarded by Nation’s Restaurant News and the Restaurant Leadership Conference, honor companies and individuals for superior leadership in franchise management. The Leadership in Franchise Management award honors a company that has led a group of franchisees to success while upholding and communicating the franchisor brand, concept, and experience. El Pollo Loco was the sole recipient of this award.
“To say that we are honored to receive this prestigious national award would be an understatement,” said Steve Carley, CEO of El Pollo Loco, who accepted the award on behalf of the company. “We are absolutely thrilled. Our management team works closely and collaboratively with the many talented franchise operators in our system to help provide the support they need to be successful in their communities and it’s great to be recognized for this outreach.”
Judges looked at the following areas within a company to determine the winner: Brand Culture, Business Results, Customer & Market Focus, Human Resource Focus, Information & Analysis (Administration, Legal & Real Estate) Leadership, Marketing, Process Management, and Strategic Planning. Nation’s Restaurant News editorial selection committee tracked various approaches used by El Pollo Loco’s franchise management team, including its Franchise Restaurant Opening Group (FROG), during the selection process.
El Pollo Loco embarked on a major national expansion plan three years ago to open restaurants outside of its West Coast base, resulting in a series of multi-unit development agreements for numerous restaurants in new markets coast-to-coast. A year later, in 2005, the company announced the creation of FROG to support new franchisees during the expansion process. FROG is comprised of a cross-functional group of restaurant professionals that serve as the key contact for new franchisees, from the time a development agreement is signed through the opening of a franchisee’s new restaurants, including site selection, supply chain, construction, training, marketing, public relations and operations.
El Pollo Loco is the only restaurant chain serving food inspired by the kitchens of Mexico that was actually founded and successfully developed in Mexico before opening its first restaurant in Los Angeles in 1980. El Pollo Loco, pronounced “L Po-yo Lo-co,” is famous for the unique preparation of its award-winning “pollo”– fresh chicken marinated in a special recipe of herbs, spices and citrus juices passed down from the founding family. The marinated chicken is then flame-grilled, hand cut and served hot off the grill with warm tortillas, freshly prepared salsas, and a wide assortment of side dishes. Rounding out the menu are fresh flavorful entrées that include signature grilled burritos, The Original Pollo Bowl, Pollo Salads, Tacos al Carbon, quesadillas, and more.
About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco currently operates 361 restaurants (208 franchised locations and 153 company-owned restaurants) located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Illinois and Connecticut. Headquartered in Irvine, California, El Pollo Loco, Inc. is a privately held company owned by Trimaran Capital Partners and company management.