In nationwide push, El Pollo Loco makes its debut in Idaho
El Pollo Loco enters Idaho, expanding its footprint to 10 states as part of a national growth strategy.
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El Pollo Loco has opened its first restaurant in Idaho, marking its entry into the state's market and expanding its footprint to 10 states. The brand plans to accelerate its expansion further, targeting 18 to 20 new restaurants in 2026, primarily outside California, where the company has historically operated.
Why It Matters
This expansion suggests El Pollo Loco is systematically increasing its presence in new territories, which may compress available territories for other franchisees in the fast-food chicken segment.
El Pollo Loco has made its entrance into Idaho, officially expanding its footprint to ten states with a new location in Meridian. This move aligns with the chain's goal of accelerating national expansion, as indicated by CEO Liz Williams who stated the company is prepared to “push across the country.” The restaurant in Meridian is part of a larger strategy, as El Pollo Loco aims to open 18 to 20 new locations in 2026, nearly doubling its pace from the previous year, with a significant focus on markets outside California.
The operator of the Meridian location is a franchise group boasting over 25 years of experience with El Pollo Loco in California. Alongside this newly opened restaurant, plans for a second location in Idaho are set for a fall 2026 launch, with projections for three to four additional sites as the market develops. This indicates a robust commitment from both the franchisor and the franchisee to penetrate and grow within Idaho.
Financially, El Pollo Loco has shown strong performance recently, reporting a 5.8% increase in same-store sales in Q1 2025, alongside improved restaurant margins, which rose by 320 basis points to 19.2%. The company’s CFO, Ira Fils, expressed confidence in capital investments in new markets, noting encouraging volume trends that support continued growth. Technomic data shows the average unit volumes for El Pollo Loco reached approximately $2.25 million in 2025, outperforming many competitors in the quick-service chicken sector.
This expansion effort not only marks a pivotal growth phase for El Pollo Loco but also suggests a healthy system as the brand continues to position itself strategically in new territories. The upcoming openings and performance metrics are worth monitoring to determine how well the brand can sustain this expansion trajectory into the next quarters.
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