Costa Mesa, Calif. — El Pollo Loco, a leading fire-grilled chicken chain, has signed a franchise development deal with new franchise partner PLM Restaurants L.C., which will open six new restaurants by August 2019 in the Tucson, Ariz., area. In addition, PLM Restaurants has also completed the acquisition of two existing El Pollo Loco restaurants in the Tucson market.
“The Tucson community has embraced El Pollo Loco with open arms and we’ve grown a strong fan base in the area,” says Steve Sather, president and CEO of El Pollo Loco. “We look forward to partnering with PLM Restaurants and its president, David Harper, who has 39 years of industry experience, to continue building the brand’s presence.”
PLM Restaurants is owned by franchise partners David Harper and Stephan Ralston. Harper is also president and owner of Meridian Restaurants. Since inception, Meridian has grown its business significantly and currently owns and operates a total of 82 Burger King Restaurants. The development deal with El Pollo Loco marks the first step for Meridian in diversifying its portfolio.
With more than 435 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas and Utah, El Pollo Loco is expanding its presence in key markets like Houston and Dallas through a combination of company and existing and new franchisee development. For more information, visit ElPolloLoco.com.
SOURCE: El Pollo Loco