{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"155780","rtpr_id":"nGNX7bBHhf-20260929","ticker":"LOCO","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["LOCO"],"title":"El Pollo Loco Announces New York Expansion and Strengthens Leadership Team to Accelerate Growth","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-29T16:00:00.340Z","article_body":"Brand signs first lease in New York (Queens)\nEnters into three development agreements for 15 area restaurants over the next\nfive years\n\nCOSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco, the\nnation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, today announced its\nplanned entry into New York, including a signed lease for its first restaurant\nin the region, targeted to open in Queens in mid-2027. The company has agreed\nto terms for three development agreements for 15 area restaurants over the\nnext five years, and also announced two leadership appointments that\nstrengthen the team supporting El Pollo Loco’s next phase of growth.\n\nNew York development will be led by one longtime El Pollo Loco franchise\npartner and two new franchise partners. The expansion marks an important step\nin El Pollo Loco’s evolution into a national brand and builds on three\nconsecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth, improved restaurant\neconomics and continued progress against the company’s transformation plan.\nThe agreements also reflect growing consumer interest in protein-forward meals\nmade with quality ingredients. With its signature fire-grilled chicken, El\nPollo Loco believes it is uniquely positioned to meet that demand and\nintroduce its differentiated offering to new communities across the country.\n\n“New York represents an important milestone for El Pollo Loco and a clear\nproof point in our disciplined growth strategy,” said Liz Williams, Chief\nExecutive Officer of El Pollo Loco. “We have strengthened our brand and\noperations, enhanced our business model, and assembled an experienced\nleadership team to support sustainable expansion. With committed franchise\npartners and our first New York lease secured, we are excited to introduce the\nEast Coast to the fire-grilled flavor and hospitality that have defined El\nPollo Loco for five decades.”\n\nEl Pollo Loco Appoints Damon Thomas as Chief Operating Officer and Tara Hinkle\nas Chief Development Officer\n\nTo support this growth, Damon Thomas has been appointed Chief Operating\nOfficer. Thomas brings extensive experience scaling high-growth restaurant\nbrands across the country and leading operations across large, multi-market\nsystems. His experience includes senior operations leadership roles at Shake\nShack and Raising Cane’s, two high-growth restaurant concepts.\n\n“El Pollo Loco has a distinctive brand, a strong operating foundation and\nsignificant room to grow,” said Thomas. “I look forward to partnering with\nour company and franchise teams to drive operational excellence, strengthen\nthe guest experience and build the systems that will support the brand as it\nenters New York and expands into other new markets.”\n\nFurther support for the brand’s growth trajectory comes from new Chief\nDevelopment Officer Tara Hinkle. Hinkle joined El Pollo Loco in July 2026 and\nbrings nearly 20 years of experience in franchising, development and\noperational planning. She most recently served as President and Head of\nAmericas for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and previously held franchise strategy\nand business partnership leadership roles at Taco Bell and Starbucks.\n\n“Entering New York is a meaningful step in building a thoughtful, scalable\ndevelopment pipeline for El Pollo Loco,” said Hinkle. “We are working with\nexperienced franchise partners who believe in the brand, known for delicious\nfire-grilled chicken and fresh, high-quality ingredients, and understand the\nopportunity in this market. We are focused on choosing the right sites,\nselecting and supporting strong operators, and growing in a way that creates\nlasting value for our guests, franchisees and shareholders.”\n\nThe company plans to share additional location, franchisee and opening details\nas East Coast development progresses. \n   \nAbout El Pollo Loco \nEl Pollo Loco (Nasdaq: LOCO) is the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken\nrestaurant known for its craveable, flavorful, and better-for-you offerings.\nNamed by USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards as a “Best Restaurant\nfor Quick, Healthy Food” three years in a row, our menu features innovative\nmeals with Mexican-inspired flavors made daily in our restaurants using\nquality ingredients. At El Pollo Loco,\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=u-cdSujRWpReZ-p5cIsVazh8Si2m0_-53THZmwyCwySj4ZWNbZSGkQ-otb1sGx25vKheDnfVZdaqF4eMJZzB_3dfNvNxLL1Q_2hGKvl1XpipNt3PDocUde8TBP-c8fcdKEeC10NsbT8cSloF7VcHuN8EhYTHz56X8HSHeqEWGNw7kWUFeHk89H2LfJdV9Iayya0s_mwhtfaWiB6qObtJegDyv5_Yrj9XSb5yeug1hlWqeXCUgR0y7xQP_8ea22asrFw61hEVWrPn5K92PUCSL-o82Fz1j9-Pj-qFV8IrMzhgPVmavPm5q-pYJtVaDOB4eJcUuNZE06qETU6fmU9te0tOXfiaZagzF85EMO1GIjtTb-9UTwa8cnTX2AT55CBrJyT63sCFHHrbotL-iVSRbmCy19Utyrz04xUmW7MGPyNXNbJqYA8BERwJHCJhh5BXbs2_9sBlZhSGXoS0ra3VrC9nVR1ncdLqtC6bmzy7beJrB_ah0D1YBi13QekUpZZVhTAU4PgOyTP88rH7G8mVfSlW_XYL3n5jUDkxT5RuS2pMK9wCelgXUZ0ZfCQV3q1oiNX94ek0Djs8oLo3WMxctDFKbH5aBjTqyw9VcAEovondApFn0BrgpWXCyPyKs8TnMzvy2sLa5aNRwnda2br4JHVTTjh_mJkYgqS-d8X1O07V7-Erc9rdMt3NQqc8IRiyoXgNAfe-e-8FgKM-JA8r3jwhCFAYIijza5-9ivtgdVI=)\ninclusivity is at the heart of our culture. Our community of over 4,000\nemployees reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone has a\nseat at our table. Since 1980, El Pollo Loco has successfully expanded its\npresence, operating more than 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants\nacross ten U.S. states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana,\nNevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Washington. The company has also extended\nits footprint internationally, with licensed restaurant locations in the\nPhilippines. For more information or to place an order,\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Fvqsl0_UkxGqQ24Wu7toHoviIJBX0S5dg_No9-4OZc0dbntYoMmYePkkq3kJV7IajJF7E5KhXVKuF8qfvuTUfdBQZKIei1-dP3LFcQcuQ_sC_971ycNxeXn75HzTOj6ludJ2eIN60SNeChDhxTtkz0u-ATVSrF9FMGDxjLemwCSq2Nfbaa-D4llD9165_nfqW2s-ieHQWxIsQIbhO8ku8OzHOpniToQ-qJbFZt1t2RZawL6WPWVK1NPECqonXFhLGtXVrR2UJPbby02ESrAp67qQilO1AgnR6hEFmQ7xY-UXxvfv3y5txRnCfJGeIrv8wKYY--g0NsER0Q5Fe-dLFWA5zXqQO-4h2CQ7K-CWwxdCSwLY26OkPNxu0_wGDy7H1STk05GBeSElGgrBp5lQa9Lsi6MSRjDxUF495XnmkbFFk7TpZvTEro0_Km4um0v2Vf_MGEd68-KnDrbyQnD2WCNSoQO1_NhBR7XLENfZ218iLN-oHENJNHy0BrkYJX28OvAGhGTUnN56ZU0yZy4yhBrWTAsJHYjElvSNDm-5GDqAfj99QL4BZOArrP43ztHzAD67NC0F5tKTy6uzewB4QivzhVTFp3ly8kJo6AOXpRBgQMjl_oCwAEPQ4H6kMkutTywlX_4goNqz1fkzkE9dh4W7kUDgb4O5vbPggxiJlO0=)\nvisit the Loco Rewards app\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=F81io19n3DSpCQKswjSwnfaIJkdVLvwCqvrpAuaIryKT15Dlmm2QUuvCXNg-CcQi11Kr41A_6UL1ceKBUsx8NKAdUfZPT7PoaWQawmLJl4tTCXZxC5ytYmhWic-TRJAGVnUO0aIYUYwuAu8qfs_YsXO9LGiGp4YpVPcE2G-ZhcymvtcUR9-MlvZe-d3lV_kEtwNa8vdXbvhjux3MLBsIQkKOHlGyKe5Eqoxn0WNWJYBW-j4dx-x7w_8SZA7g6DBuKHTfWnZbLmCHWpJSZUd8TwvMEZkiN9awJD2i-NuqNrIQbBf5N31O9fQ08G0GQKBsmX4-Q3TocNFJ8V76xu_e8l7a7yvD0xWY-a1uA6C7dtvOgEzeH70Ib8Au1xPHgJt5KNa6DWhEIZga3ka6Giv-jBiePubt0YD1RjUrTY6qXvs8S9DpkmCsFINnjmWKWv3nvnr5pg3wjlCx0PFUoMQNjY2pwIfbOyyd3V5ODLTGVITZaqyNYySB8MQuJ2y_C2xglb8g12vZJCrBkRb5qXLDHQonDJ23YK5Af4fh6PrLCIJWofpEKeVBWFDM60PQrlPg1RVinqTmiSqrtm_y-85bQT4LAkkNqaXUdUCXxqzfX0_R1_02QrOS1J82UuM3mZuQb6UdSDyKVsidKn9tidYZGHXhti9sf22LMxhftBHAP8o=)or\nElPolloLoco.com.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=-c57XrmTYz90XLtV13g4VBHd0vAo_LdCPkgmJ5TqwAMvsL8sPb28hZj03oMRqxRFHhuZKvNs0yT6m5gAEO3UjllUsbmJCwOZ1L8T7nduPj-eHK07OBnMyiuC4d1Ro7202LMt2V150DbFfbOEdkuRuhgvovZKO4LxWUBj1opDbTU0gN_MYrhKeGMLvk4dSvpimIzGJ2L8dCmU3DYrMntx-_sijxTGWypGKT5fBjBmJpdsl3lAH_bDnAcVApFlvGDP4znTpL2p-sTDnEU-GEMWHK_v0DDA7_6yzcb2mLEP7VlEcojZ1btXkwRZsXdwUBZBs_aG9Y6xTJIHCcvYXy2dJF7r181Npave1dLXN-oaBPq9WgGa1srnHjG0b3Son1yJi0sm_PgazEIo9gGw1rHNORSzUOyyLRkNwQCBXtJeUKIWRd7bCwHqzWZ-vVcqPTDE7y_g9FwoptQywtlP1N8VaWHeeIesDLPDZtFCX8Qsz8ycfHOdBGA8YvpMseiMTbP1kqFbzdKUx0vmDdNsXj03qqSc33K7W3LsdJhNvREjibjKSdt7JL7SpQC-vSBF72gwxC8WbbWBdk33NMnTeVvElph0y9h9c4mBaDZAl0jkCX-BE3HFSIO2KuLqBZyzV3pHllSKcW84rpLHNBKYTmSTqvJ1Sg68QThlnkNzGgGPNWOAL1-n5Pta-XWjX1VFTQZuP8vh7nkQpHP8AXU6U1Q-iopNBYAIXjGIcDl-wQytUtLJLuyhwkIlOiDok3zj1mm33LpE9jMXbtV7JvgXlZNEzw==)\nFollow us on Instagram\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OALNUMBh-iD3F0W8v2zDsSsUIq_L_eVFElZnn1hce5F_km_3f9EmkfKJMjOIgP6HipxDR-JS4vZ1be_J-CBQW9D2zNJPu4bifVjNLhIXPujuNtUiPB4AJRd72XkSa7Rfph-k0PTQpe8e27tOJijccOpygQcSWomAE9YtfvxnPaMIo0CXKOovkw9g7H0aTn3ZqhKVFPToVd1XWi-KDk_7zlATqpni9J1Kn3ypZ8jgMBhW6nA5jMR6Q8GBmvGZNwLYoqBi07tdQAm9NnwSvx-PVKkBKvZJtsAgMRulViJ-lnHrsoe11CtJ4ZRs1Vb6dpQfSFzBw6P2wNKm72Nj-p-dFybGxaXpj77cCxC1tR_wgG-TGCATNGogY_r8vVukk6PW2F-lpodbl9rbOGhbh48JzVdtm48ijiB0TKHgdYYfHBAz5leTxHzxtklJ-xZhtNq4ZETfjVNUUfXcM-LiUxaGN9VLxXjbdJ1mkHlb_UBFE-lNpuLG1XnRf2vX1dXhjSCd30UhzG0JdlPE_Fx-S7ew_pCQASks4G3KTBCjklRXqFzYxhnKF41bY61qVunx7cXztZEe9cOPc7g5gaoaIdC7OOfSmx-SDzjwk2NSNLwuI_Mjm7Z-eBxj6n8PTv5QXEt6IYcNCM2EoBNzH3Gp8S2jh8Mw6_O1gisXg76BfWYsI1R_3a7DH2LQL7Er8QEuocdH),\nTikTok\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=qlAJLGK5_he8cSRnVBVWpNJxjgnEAPDikKqT7x5ohOsu878f38j-uG0hciERs_wsix6YMQENEJiloVC2ZYObUi46nKLvWCS5-gbiGIRPLjQ=),\nFacebook,\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=edtEaAE51o0nHV4RXxsnl_4wJozdwrKr01U4RiVeowseQ_WsgvkZKowtfnfl_aReshACEAybNnOHd46Usqp7RqglTo7Vhveloo2vfip8E0RZWmXEnlQxP-eVrcuWnfgOWSU4F1bAQZX7qBIxgh1TiLA3THWj_6X_jkKtRScLwYqJkMsFWJQFwYpRZv19wtWf-X_3TmXeuQojxUCLFN9L8TO4exnyXSVOs7fziTeMk-9NCh2QAEZaJWHKC8f4GcsQVUJVWgOLYYU965APcXDhWpEzV3a1C40CLPR-BROgLv_2v_tCWobk2yIlqpN_FcxdcfZ_MCO7vMHz82nTrAKgWy-djOruU63kLYUU6EeE9r5EZt-fiRDxTPAlAfEOAi-Uc1oChNipU_6-sR-9J8jG4UCBv_pnDgiph7gm408dW7UagjHER1rU_KW5JBYT9-AQRhrApinv6eW4S935bmiXr0LIiC88sQR-9igBUkv3rd6rzp8XI9Yi_a5Dk8sfyLnCcJ5ZYfTL-OG9VyiWlkDopAKxUWBpl94s_OcXUy9LAEGdh7wVhG-LdNeF28wtW_pl-IgC0MifGDRQLBDu0jf4ofr3l0iisjMVKiXaVxI0qLmO1dzI0CXkceDZI8EyHXu6L2BSGBE_Bxa1ubWE-GbhIyazNi3OVmGgnkcr-HpSOSqGN1bV9nx3l3_XhenSPRsF)\nor X.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Dq9NU_M8bWnCi1M63ANvdAeTR0SWBrppy4RHr7AhhuKTi2JEjnZ5jOyOH1fdhj4MDQfPdpRWV1YJ52uTHV9qb-FdV_rL--X5E3W20BrJ7U7jW6xLUd9FouCqfZ1fZVQBB5GKC3FmdD9GfGGVBgcw20EY_fMI0-nev2IEMduF3isWhuzFVSkGUNH9m_DJKfICEwjqZaEi9ebLNuzffBUHlD0sVd0QT0OmTVhXwo8rwAVF4Fzy1XEFJ539kGJzsWsdj79XLAjl6R9YqoKUpyKIoF8hDJHLPn28TF5f2CETIyN1JFrjMag276xutFu-5CzgO7HtqqZZarZs40qPQG31buUUfZ_Pp379Y5I7AUdz5hsOalt4OA1SnuE6qRE9RZzByvWWRPQJuAzk_vH7io_zc2Tm_x-8H-p-f-e8baT1nBMugJiC2GpGDReAxmEgwJ2EPyxVwYnhJU2O_PSlPsDm-K63r0ohAOC5WuqtYOUBCI03WzSIdHFWgVJT08ChvLBh2sxp6ga97lBNxcCbpXQDV86Wviym9an85W5Y335RYM4ZsbMYGj53WvTlXkuR9qahmW8e2HzTjoJAiYjrYRSD-YbeQ-AJggQueiUc43O0-Ns=) \n\nContact: \nmedia@elpolloloco.com \n\nPhotos accompanying this announcement are available at \nhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fdb5c53-cd4c-44a0-b10e-3e285913f2cb\nhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1ab00c2-f6e1-4f2b-aa8a-a0028f066d9b\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/23510f82-0960-470c-b5b2-ab0b0b94654b)\nEl Pollo Loco Announces New York Expansion and Strengthens Leadership Team to\nAccelerate Growth \n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fdb5c53-cd4c-44a0-b10e-3e285913f2cb/en)\nBrand signs first lease in New York (Queens). Enters into three development\nagreements for 15 area restaurants over the next five years.El Pollo Loco\nAnnounces New York Expansion and Strengthens Leadership Team to Accelerate\nGrowth \n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1ab00c2-f6e1-4f2b-aa8a-a0028f066d9b/en)\nBrand signs first lease in New York (Queens). Enters into three development\nagreements for 15 area restaurants over the next five years.\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX7bBHhf-20260929","title":"El Pollo Loco Announces New York Expansion and Strengthens Leadership Team to Accelerate Growth","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"LOCO","created":"2026-09-29T16:00:00.340Z","tickers":["LOCO"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"Brand signs first lease in New York (Queens)\nEnters into three development agreements for 15 area restaurants over the next\nfive years\n\nCOSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco, the\nnation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, today announced its\nplanned entry into New York, including a signed lease for its first restaurant\nin the region, targeted to open in Queens in mid-2027. The company has agreed\nto terms for three development agreements for 15 area restaurants over the\nnext five years, and also announced two leadership appointments that\nstrengthen the team supporting El Pollo Loco’s next phase of growth.\n\nNew York development will be led by one longtime El Pollo Loco franchise\npartner and two new franchise partners. The expansion marks an important step\nin El Pollo Loco’s evolution into a national brand and builds on three\nconsecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth, improved restaurant\neconomics and continued progress against the company’s transformation plan.\nThe agreements also reflect growing consumer interest in protein-forward meals\nmade with quality ingredients. With its signature fire-grilled chicken, El\nPollo Loco believes it is uniquely positioned to meet that demand and\nintroduce its differentiated offering to new communities across the country.\n\n“New York represents an important milestone for El Pollo Loco and a clear\nproof point in our disciplined growth strategy,” said Liz Williams, Chief\nExecutive Officer of El Pollo Loco. “We have strengthened our brand and\noperations, enhanced our business model, and assembled an experienced\nleadership team to support sustainable expansion. With committed franchise\npartners and our first New York lease secured, we are excited to introduce the\nEast Coast to the fire-grilled flavor and hospitality that have defined El\nPollo Loco for five decades.”\n\nEl Pollo Loco Appoints Damon Thomas as Chief Operating Officer and Tara Hinkle\nas Chief Development Officer\n\nTo support this growth, Damon Thomas has been appointed Chief Operating\nOfficer. Thomas brings extensive experience scaling high-growth restaurant\nbrands across the country and leading operations across large, multi-market\nsystems. His experience includes senior operations leadership roles at Shake\nShack and Raising Cane’s, two high-growth restaurant concepts.\n\n“El Pollo Loco has a distinctive brand, a strong operating foundation and\nsignificant room to grow,” said Thomas. “I look forward to partnering with\nour company and franchise teams to drive operational excellence, strengthen\nthe guest experience and build the systems that will support the brand as it\nenters New York and expands into other new markets.”\n\nFurther support for the brand’s growth trajectory comes from new Chief\nDevelopment Officer Tara Hinkle. Hinkle joined El Pollo Loco in July 2026 and\nbrings nearly 20 years of experience in franchising, development and\noperational planning. She most recently served as President and Head of\nAmericas for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and previously held franchise strategy\nand business partnership leadership roles at Taco Bell and Starbucks.\n\n“Entering New York is a meaningful step in building a thoughtful, scalable\ndevelopment pipeline for El Pollo Loco,” said Hinkle. “We are working with\nexperienced franchise partners who believe in the brand, known for delicious\nfire-grilled chicken and fresh, high-quality ingredients, and understand the\nopportunity in this market. We are focused on choosing the right sites,\nselecting and supporting strong operators, and growing in a way that creates\nlasting value for our guests, franchisees and shareholders.”\n\nThe company plans to share additional location, franchisee and opening details\nas East Coast development progresses. \n   \nAbout El Pollo Loco \nEl Pollo Loco (Nasdaq: LOCO) is the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken\nrestaurant known for its craveable, flavorful, and better-for-you offerings.\nNamed by USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards as a “Best Restaurant\nfor Quick, Healthy Food” three years in a row, our menu features innovative\nmeals with Mexican-inspired flavors made daily in our restaurants using\nquality ingredients. At El Pollo Loco,\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=u-cdSujRWpReZ-p5cIsVazh8Si2m0_-53THZmwyCwySj4ZWNbZSGkQ-otb1sGx25vKheDnfVZdaqF4eMJZzB_3dfNvNxLL1Q_2hGKvl1XpipNt3PDocUde8TBP-c8fcdKEeC10NsbT8cSloF7VcHuN8EhYTHz56X8HSHeqEWGNw7kWUFeHk89H2LfJdV9Iayya0s_mwhtfaWiB6qObtJegDyv5_Yrj9XSb5yeug1hlWqeXCUgR0y7xQP_8ea22asrFw61hEVWrPn5K92PUCSL-o82Fz1j9-Pj-qFV8IrMzhgPVmavPm5q-pYJtVaDOB4eJcUuNZE06qETU6fmU9te0tOXfiaZagzF85EMO1GIjtTb-9UTwa8cnTX2AT55CBrJyT63sCFHHrbotL-iVSRbmCy19Utyrz04xUmW7MGPyNXNbJqYA8BERwJHCJhh5BXbs2_9sBlZhSGXoS0ra3VrC9nVR1ncdLqtC6bmzy7beJrB_ah0D1YBi13QekUpZZVhTAU4PgOyTP88rH7G8mVfSlW_XYL3n5jUDkxT5RuS2pMK9wCelgXUZ0ZfCQV3q1oiNX94ek0Djs8oLo3WMxctDFKbH5aBjTqyw9VcAEovondApFn0BrgpWXCyPyKs8TnMzvy2sLa5aNRwnda2br4JHVTTjh_mJkYgqS-d8X1O07V7-Erc9rdMt3NQqc8IRiyoXgNAfe-e-8FgKM-JA8r3jwhCFAYIijza5-9ivtgdVI=)\ninclusivity is at the heart of our culture. Our community of over 4,000\nemployees reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone has a\nseat at our table. Since 1980, El Pollo Loco has successfully expanded its\npresence, operating more than 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants\nacross ten U.S. states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana,\nNevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Washington. The company has also extended\nits footprint internationally, with licensed restaurant locations in the\nPhilippines. For more information or to place an order,\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Fvqsl0_UkxGqQ24Wu7toHoviIJBX0S5dg_No9-4OZc0dbntYoMmYePkkq3kJV7IajJF7E5KhXVKuF8qfvuTUfdBQZKIei1-dP3LFcQcuQ_sC_971ycNxeXn75HzTOj6ludJ2eIN60SNeChDhxTtkz0u-ATVSrF9FMGDxjLemwCSq2Nfbaa-D4llD9165_nfqW2s-ieHQWxIsQIbhO8ku8OzHOpniToQ-qJbFZt1t2RZawL6WPWVK1NPECqonXFhLGtXVrR2UJPbby02ESrAp67qQilO1AgnR6hEFmQ7xY-UXxvfv3y5txRnCfJGeIrv8wKYY--g0NsER0Q5Fe-dLFWA5zXqQO-4h2CQ7K-CWwxdCSwLY26OkPNxu0_wGDy7H1STk05GBeSElGgrBp5lQa9Lsi6MSRjDxUF495XnmkbFFk7TpZvTEro0_Km4um0v2Vf_MGEd68-KnDrbyQnD2WCNSoQO1_NhBR7XLENfZ218iLN-oHENJNHy0BrkYJX28OvAGhGTUnN56ZU0yZy4yhBrWTAsJHYjElvSNDm-5GDqAfj99QL4BZOArrP43ztHzAD67NC0F5tKTy6uzewB4QivzhVTFp3ly8kJo6AOXpRBgQMjl_oCwAEPQ4H6kMkutTywlX_4goNqz1fkzkE9dh4W7kUDgb4O5vbPggxiJlO0=)\nvisit the Loco Rewards app\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=F81io19n3DSpCQKswjSwnfaIJkdVLvwCqvrpAuaIryKT15Dlmm2QUuvCXNg-CcQi11Kr41A_6UL1ceKBUsx8NKAdUfZPT7PoaWQawmLJl4tTCXZxC5ytYmhWic-TRJAGVnUO0aIYUYwuAu8qfs_YsXO9LGiGp4YpVPcE2G-ZhcymvtcUR9-MlvZe-d3lV_kEtwNa8vdXbvhjux3MLBsIQkKOHlGyKe5Eqoxn0WNWJYBW-j4dx-x7w_8SZA7g6DBuKHTfWnZbLmCHWpJSZUd8TwvMEZkiN9awJD2i-NuqNrIQbBf5N31O9fQ08G0GQKBsmX4-Q3TocNFJ8V76xu_e8l7a7yvD0xWY-a1uA6C7dtvOgEzeH70Ib8Au1xPHgJt5KNa6DWhEIZga3ka6Giv-jBiePubt0YD1RjUrTY6qXvs8S9DpkmCsFINnjmWKWv3nvnr5pg3wjlCx0PFUoMQNjY2pwIfbOyyd3V5ODLTGVITZaqyNYySB8MQuJ2y_C2xglb8g12vZJCrBkRb5qXLDHQonDJ23YK5Af4fh6PrLCIJWofpEKeVBWFDM60PQrlPg1RVinqTmiSqrtm_y-85bQT4LAkkNqaXUdUCXxqzfX0_R1_02QrOS1J82UuM3mZuQb6UdSDyKVsidKn9tidYZGHXhti9sf22LMxhftBHAP8o=)or\nElPolloLoco.com.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=-c57XrmTYz90XLtV13g4VBHd0vAo_LdCPkgmJ5TqwAMvsL8sPb28hZj03oMRqxRFHhuZKvNs0yT6m5gAEO3UjllUsbmJCwOZ1L8T7nduPj-eHK07OBnMyiuC4d1Ro7202LMt2V150DbFfbOEdkuRuhgvovZKO4LxWUBj1opDbTU0gN_MYrhKeGMLvk4dSvpimIzGJ2L8dCmU3DYrMntx-_sijxTGWypGKT5fBjBmJpdsl3lAH_bDnAcVApFlvGDP4znTpL2p-sTDnEU-GEMWHK_v0DDA7_6yzcb2mLEP7VlEcojZ1btXkwRZsXdwUBZBs_aG9Y6xTJIHCcvYXy2dJF7r181Npave1dLXN-oaBPq9WgGa1srnHjG0b3Son1yJi0sm_PgazEIo9gGw1rHNORSzUOyyLRkNwQCBXtJeUKIWRd7bCwHqzWZ-vVcqPTDE7y_g9FwoptQywtlP1N8VaWHeeIesDLPDZtFCX8Qsz8ycfHOdBGA8YvpMseiMTbP1kqFbzdKUx0vmDdNsXj03qqSc33K7W3LsdJhNvREjibjKSdt7JL7SpQC-vSBF72gwxC8WbbWBdk33NMnTeVvElph0y9h9c4mBaDZAl0jkCX-BE3HFSIO2KuLqBZyzV3pHllSKcW84rpLHNBKYTmSTqvJ1Sg68QThlnkNzGgGPNWOAL1-n5Pta-XWjX1VFTQZuP8vh7nkQpHP8AXU6U1Q-iopNBYAIXjGIcDl-wQytUtLJLuyhwkIlOiDok3zj1mm33LpE9jMXbtV7JvgXlZNEzw==)\nFollow us on Instagram\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OALNUMBh-iD3F0W8v2zDsSsUIq_L_eVFElZnn1hce5F_km_3f9EmkfKJMjOIgP6HipxDR-JS4vZ1be_J-CBQW9D2zNJPu4bifVjNLhIXPujuNtUiPB4AJRd72XkSa7Rfph-k0PTQpe8e27tOJijccOpygQcSWomAE9YtfvxnPaMIo0CXKOovkw9g7H0aTn3ZqhKVFPToVd1XWi-KDk_7zlATqpni9J1Kn3ypZ8jgMBhW6nA5jMR6Q8GBmvGZNwLYoqBi07tdQAm9NnwSvx-PVKkBKvZJtsAgMRulViJ-lnHrsoe11CtJ4ZRs1Vb6dpQfSFzBw6P2wNKm72Nj-p-dFybGxaXpj77cCxC1tR_wgG-TGCATNGogY_r8vVukk6PW2F-lpodbl9rbOGhbh48JzVdtm48ijiB0TKHgdYYfHBAz5leTxHzxtklJ-xZhtNq4ZETfjVNUUfXcM-LiUxaGN9VLxXjbdJ1mkHlb_UBFE-lNpuLG1XnRf2vX1dXhjSCd30UhzG0JdlPE_Fx-S7ew_pCQASks4G3KTBCjklRXqFzYxhnKF41bY61qVunx7cXztZEe9cOPc7g5gaoaIdC7OOfSmx-SDzjwk2NSNLwuI_Mjm7Z-eBxj6n8PTv5QXEt6IYcNCM2EoBNzH3Gp8S2jh8Mw6_O1gisXg76BfWYsI1R_3a7DH2LQL7Er8QEuocdH),\nTikTok\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=qlAJLGK5_he8cSRnVBVWpNJxjgnEAPDikKqT7x5ohOsu878f38j-uG0hciERs_wsix6YMQENEJiloVC2ZYObUi46nKLvWCS5-gbiGIRPLjQ=),\nFacebook,\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=edtEaAE51o0nHV4RXxsnl_4wJozdwrKr01U4RiVeowseQ_WsgvkZKowtfnfl_aReshACEAybNnOHd46Usqp7RqglTo7Vhveloo2vfip8E0RZWmXEnlQxP-eVrcuWnfgOWSU4F1bAQZX7qBIxgh1TiLA3THWj_6X_jkKtRScLwYqJkMsFWJQFwYpRZv19wtWf-X_3TmXeuQojxUCLFN9L8TO4exnyXSVOs7fziTeMk-9NCh2QAEZaJWHKC8f4GcsQVUJVWgOLYYU965APcXDhWpEzV3a1C40CLPR-BROgLv_2v_tCWobk2yIlqpN_FcxdcfZ_MCO7vMHz82nTrAKgWy-djOruU63kLYUU6EeE9r5EZt-fiRDxTPAlAfEOAi-Uc1oChNipU_6-sR-9J8jG4UCBv_pnDgiph7gm408dW7UagjHER1rU_KW5JBYT9-AQRhrApinv6eW4S935bmiXr0LIiC88sQR-9igBUkv3rd6rzp8XI9Yi_a5Dk8sfyLnCcJ5ZYfTL-OG9VyiWlkDopAKxUWBpl94s_OcXUy9LAEGdh7wVhG-LdNeF28wtW_pl-IgC0MifGDRQLBDu0jf4ofr3l0iisjMVKiXaVxI0qLmO1dzI0CXkceDZI8EyHXu6L2BSGBE_Bxa1ubWE-GbhIyazNi3OVmGgnkcr-HpSOSqGN1bV9nx3l3_XhenSPRsF)\nor X.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Dq9NU_M8bWnCi1M63ANvdAeTR0SWBrppy4RHr7AhhuKTi2JEjnZ5jOyOH1fdhj4MDQfPdpRWV1YJ52uTHV9qb-FdV_rL--X5E3W20BrJ7U7jW6xLUd9FouCqfZ1fZVQBB5GKC3FmdD9GfGGVBgcw20EY_fMI0-nev2IEMduF3isWhuzFVSkGUNH9m_DJKfICEwjqZaEi9ebLNuzffBUHlD0sVd0QT0OmTVhXwo8rwAVF4Fzy1XEFJ539kGJzsWsdj79XLAjl6R9YqoKUpyKIoF8hDJHLPn28TF5f2CETIyN1JFrjMag276xutFu-5CzgO7HtqqZZarZs40qPQG31buUUfZ_Pp379Y5I7AUdz5hsOalt4OA1SnuE6qRE9RZzByvWWRPQJuAzk_vH7io_zc2Tm_x-8H-p-f-e8baT1nBMugJiC2GpGDReAxmEgwJ2EPyxVwYnhJU2O_PSlPsDm-K63r0ohAOC5WuqtYOUBCI03WzSIdHFWgVJT08ChvLBh2sxp6ga97lBNxcCbpXQDV86Wviym9an85W5Y335RYM4ZsbMYGj53WvTlXkuR9qahmW8e2HzTjoJAiYjrYRSD-YbeQ-AJggQueiUc43O0-Ns=) \n\nContact: \nmedia@elpolloloco.com \n\nPhotos accompanying this announcement are available at \nhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fdb5c53-cd4c-44a0-b10e-3e285913f2cb\nhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1ab00c2-f6e1-4f2b-aa8a-a0028f066d9b\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/23510f82-0960-470c-b5b2-ab0b0b94654b)\nEl Pollo Loco Announces New York Expansion and Strengthens Leadership Team to\nAccelerate Growth \n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fdb5c53-cd4c-44a0-b10e-3e285913f2cb/en)\nBrand signs first lease in New York (Queens). Enters into three development\nagreements for 15 area restaurants over the next five years.El Pollo Loco\nAnnounces New York Expansion and Strengthens Leadership Team to Accelerate\nGrowth \n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1ab00c2-f6e1-4f2b-aa8a-a0028f066d9b/en)\nBrand signs first lease in New York (Queens). Enters into three development\nagreements for 15 area restaurants over the next five years.\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-29T16:00:00.400751159Z","server_sent_at_ms":1790697600400},"received_at":"2026-09-29T16:00:00.498Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"144501","press_release_id":"155780","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure","sector":"Consumer Discretionary"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"El Pollo Loco announced its entry into New York, signing a lease for its first restaurant in Queens targeted to open in mid-2027.\n\nThe company agreed to three development agreements covering 15 area restaurants over the next five years, led by one longtime and two new franchise partners.\n\nThe expansion builds on three consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth, and the company appointed Damon Thomas as COO and Tara Hinkle as Chief Development Officer to support the national growth push.\n\nNew York entry marks El Pollo Loco's first East Coast step beyond its ten-state Western U.S. footprint of more than 500 restaurants.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"LOCO's first East Coast entry -- 15 franchised New York units over five years plus a new COO/CDO duo to run the national push."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"first_ny_location":"Queens, targeted mid-2027","planned_new_units":"15 area restaurants over the next five years","development_agreements":3}},"quotedText":"New York represents an important milestone for El Pollo Loco and a clear proof point in our disciplined growth strategy","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Liz Williams","role":"CEO"},{"name":"Damon Thomas","role":"Chief Operating Officer (appointed)"},{"name":"Tara Hinkle","role":"Chief Development Officer (appointed)"}],"products":["fire-grilled chicken","Loco Rewards app"],"companies":[{"name":"El Pollo Loco","ticker":"LOCO","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Shake Shack","relationship":"mentioned (COO prior employer)"},{"name":"Raising Cane's","relationship":"mentioned (COO prior employer)"},{"name":"The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf","relationship":"mentioned (CDO prior employer)"},{"name":"Taco Bell","relationship":"mentioned (CDO prior employer)"},{"name":"Starbucks","relationship":"mentioned (CDO prior employer)"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"First New York entry with 15 franchised restaurants over five years is a credible growth step for a small-cap restaurant chain, but development-agreement unit growth is franchise-led, long-dated, and carries no near-term financial figures. Two executive appointments support the strategy but are routine."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"LOCO"},"globalImportance":22,"audienceRelevance":30,"eventTypeSecondary":["executive_change"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"geographic-expansion-plus-hires","issuerAuthored":true,"financialQuantification":"none-stated"}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":["executive_change"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"El Pollo Loco announced its entry into New York, signing a lease for its first restaurant in Queens targeted to open in mid-2027.\n\nThe company agreed to three development agreements covering 15 area restaurants over the next five years, led by one longtime and two new franchise partners.\n\nThe expansion builds on three consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth, and the company appointed Damon Thomas as COO and Tara Hinkle as Chief Development Officer to support the national growth push.\n\nNew York entry marks El Pollo Loco's first East Coast step beyond its ten-state Western U.S. footprint of more than 500 restaurants.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"first_ny_location":"Queens, targeted mid-2027","planned_new_units":"15 area restaurants over the next five years","development_agreements":3}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Liz Williams","role":"CEO"},{"name":"Damon Thomas","role":"Chief Operating Officer (appointed)"},{"name":"Tara Hinkle","role":"Chief Development Officer (appointed)"}],"products":["fire-grilled chicken","Loco Rewards app"],"companies":[{"name":"El Pollo Loco","ticker":"LOCO","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Shake Shack","relationship":"mentioned (COO prior employer)"},{"name":"Raising Cane's","relationship":"mentioned (COO prior employer)"},{"name":"The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf","relationship":"mentioned (CDO prior employer)"},{"name":"Taco Bell","relationship":"mentioned (CDO prior employer)"},{"name":"Starbucks","relationship":"mentioned (CDO prior employer)"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-29T16:00:06.672Z","global_importance":22,"audience_relevance":30,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"geographic-expansion-plus-hires","issuerAuthored":true,"financialQuantification":"none-stated"}},"durationMs":6096,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}