El Pollo Loco

As Sardar Biglari buys up stock, El Pollo Loco swallows a poison pill

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 09, 2023

The chicken chain adopted a shareholder rights plan, citing Biglari Capital’s continued acquisition of the company’s shares.

Premium

Food

After a pandemic break, restaurants added a lot of new menu items this summer

By Patricia Cobe on Aug. 03, 2023

Customers returned to dining out and operators greeted them with a record number of limited-time offers. The result was a summer of love on restaurant menus.

Financing

Sardar Biglari takes a big stake in El Pollo Loco

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 01, 2023

The investor, whose Biglari Holdings owns Steak n Shake, has acquired 9.1% of the shares of the chicken chain in his latest “passive” investment.

Financing

Q1 proves a mixed experience for restaurant chains and suppliers

By Peter Romeo on May 05, 2023

Earnings roundup: Inflation eased, but so did traffic—at least for some. Weather, meanwhile, was a wallop for at least one, a non-issue for the rest.

Marketing

El Pollo Loco's revamped loyalty program gives members more to aim for

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 04, 2023

The new Loco Rewards has a tiered structure and more variety. It's part of a digital overhaul that also includes an upgraded mobile app.

Financing

El Pollo Loco's private equity investor finally heads for the exits, after 18 years

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 03, 2023

Trimaran Capital Partners, which first invested in the chicken chain in 2005 and took it public in 2014, is liquidating its holdings in the chain.

Leadership

Remembering Jerry Richardson, the football star who built Hardee's

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 14, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: The man knew biscuits and burgers as well as he knew the route to the Super Bowl.

Leadership

Jerry Richardson, football star turned Hardee's biscuit maker, dies at age 86

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 13, 2023

A former owner of the Carolina Panthers NFL team, the North Carolina native made his money as a Hardee's franchisee. He would later operate Quincy's, Denny's and El Pollo Loco, among other restaurant brands.

Operations