Portillo's

Activist investor takes aim at Portillo's

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 16, 2024

Hedge fund Engaged Capital is looking to boost the Chicago-based chain's profitability and speed national growth.

Amid headwinds, Portillo's focuses on throughput and eye-catching ads

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 06, 2024

The fast-casual chain is improving drive-thru speeds and will be advertising during Bears games to focus on what can be controlled.

Operations

Portillo's expands operating hours, explores late night

By Lisa Jennings on Jun. 03, 2024

Systemwide, Portillo's restaurants will open 30 minutes earlier, and some restaurants are staying open as late as 1 a.m. local time.

Operations

Portillo's sees consumers reaching boiling point on pricing

By Lisa Jennings on May 07, 2024

When lower-income diners are feeling budget strain, the fast-casual Portillo's feels it most in the drive-thru. To address that, the restaurant chain is working to get orders through car windows faster.

Financing

Portillo’s sees opportunity in catering, pickup-only stores

By Heather Lalley on Feb. 27, 2024

The Chicago-style fast casual opened 12 new restaurants in 2023, a record number, and said same-store sales rose 5.7% during the year.

Operations

Portillo's rides out traffic declines with 'transaction arbitrage'

By Lisa Jennings on Nov. 02, 2023

Moves into high-population-growth states are driving revenue growth that company officials say will help the Chicago-based chain manage through ebbs and flows of consumer behavior.

Operations

Portillo's restaurant of the future: smaller box, lower costs but same 'ridiculously high' AUVs

By Lisa Jennings on Sep. 20, 2023

At an Investor Day, company officials plot the 77-unit chain's path to 920 units across the U.S.

Operations

Portillo's keeping menu price hike options open

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 03, 2023

Traffic dropped in the second quarter, but the company said consumers still see the Chicago-based brand as a great value and there's room for price increases.

Operations