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Portillo's

Leadership

Former Darden CEO Gene Lee joins Portillo's board

 By Lisa Jennings on Jun. 16, 2025

The appointment was supported by activist investor Engaged Capital LLC, which has been seeking board changes at fast-casual Portillo's for months. Lee brings deep industry experience.

Marketing

From Portillo’s to indies, restaurant chains serve up divine marketing to cash in on Chicago-born pope

 By Heather Lalley on May 10, 2025

Marketing Bites: With the memes flowing like holy water, restaurants specializing in Italian Beef, pizza and more craft some real-time marketing miracles.

Leadership

Portillo's reaches cooperation agreement with activist investor

By Lisa Jennings on Apr. 29, 2025

Engaged Capital had nominated Charlie Morrison to Portillo's board, but Morrison took a gig as CEO of Jersey Mike's. Now the fast-casual Portillo's plans to work with the investor to find an alternative.

Operations

Portillo's readies breakfast test with chocolate cake donuts and Polish sausage-and-egg sandwiches

By Lisa Jennings on Apr. 11, 2025

Five locations in the Chicago area will offer the limited-time pilot, starting April 15. Company officials say the test is a response to longtime demand.

Operations

Portillo's plans to try its hand at breakfast

By Lisa Jennings on Apr. 02, 2025

The Chicago-based fast casual will start testing a morning menu at select restaurants on April 15.

Leadership

Portillo's faces potential Engaged Capital proxy fight with nomination of 2 board members

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 03, 2025

The activist investor hopes to put two ex-Salad and Go executives on the Chicago-based fast-casual chain's board: former CEO Charlie Morrison and former CMO Nicole Portwood.

Operations

Here comes Portillo's app-less loyalty program

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 26, 2025

Late to the game but offering something different, the fast-casual chain expects to launch its Perks program in March.

Technology

The future of restaurant loyalty may be app-less

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 22, 2025

Tech Check: More restaurants are bypassing loyalty apps and going straight for what really matters: the data. Will customers care?

Leadership

Chipotle's Jack Hartung to join Portillo's board

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 10, 2025

The move was brought about by activist investor Engaged Capital, which last year promised to take steps to "unlock the intrinsic value" of Portillo's business.

Financing

Advertising fails to deliver the usual sales pop for Portillo's

By Peter Romeo on Nov. 05, 2024

Traffic at the fast-casual chain fell 3.5% in the most recent quarter, but management is banking on a sales rebound from kiosks and unit growth.

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