Portillo’s has picked a full-service dining veteran to be its new permanent CEO.
The fast-casual hot dog chain on Wednesday named Brett Patterson as its top official. He replaces interim chief Michael Miles, who stepped in following the ouster of CEO Michael Osanloo in September.
The move will be effective on Feb. 23. Patterson will also join Portillo's board.
Patterson was most recently CEO of the growing Miller’s Ale House for about a year and a half. Before that, he spent years at Outback Steakhouse, Ruby Tuesday and Darden Restaurants.
He has a strong background in operations, team development and sustainable growth and is known as a people-first leader, Portillo’s said in a press release. He has held almost every role there is within a restaurant, Miles added.
Brett Patterson. | Photo courtesy of Portillo's
He inherits a brand that has underperformed expectations of late. In September, Portillo’s lowered its same-store sales forecast for the year and announced that it was pumping the brakes on restaurant development after aggressively expanding into new markets.
It then began a “strategic reset” focused on promoting value and improving its unit economics. It also started looking for a CEO to replace Osanloo, who had led the brand for seven years.
In the third quarter ended Sept. 28, Portillo’s same-store sales declined 0.8%.
On Wednesday, the 100-unit chain said Patterson’s priorities will be market positioning, new restaurant growth and operational excellence.
In a statement, Patterson said he was excited and honored to join Portillo’s, a beloved Chicagoland brand with national aspirations. He praised its food and people-first ethos, calling it “a special brand.”
“I look forward to working alongside these talented teams to build on what differentiates Portillo’s while driving profitable, sustainable results,” Patterson said.
Portillo’s stock was down 0.18% in after-hours trading.
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