As Pollo Campero Prepares for National Franchise Expansion, Franchisee Support Remains Key to Growth

Pollo Campero, the fast-growing chicken franchise with more than 80 U.S. locations and another 270 around the world, prepares for even more growth as it continues to prioritize franchisee success through continual support and operational innovations. 

The quick service, grilled and fried chicken restaurant began in Guatemala as a family-owned business with a carefully crafted menu and unique chicken recipe. Now, as the brand prepares for even more growth, it's continuing to prioritize franchisee success through a variety of operational innovations. The concept caught on quickly and won a seat on the family table of thousands, weaving itself into the regional cultural and culinary landscape while becoming the world's largest Latin American chicken chain. 

The crossover appeal is a huge win for its franchise owners. Its exceptional brand recognition from consumers with ties to Latin America and its flavor accessibility to those without is a strong differentiator as the franchise ramps up in the U.S., where Hispanic people are projected to reach 30% of the total population by 2050. 

And with the momentum that this chicken franchise has going, Pollo Campero's Managing Director & COO Luis Javier Rodas (LJ) and Senior Director of Operations Fernando Perez believe now is a great time to join the franchise, and the two have some insights to share with potential investors as to why.

Pollo Campero has carved a relevant space in a popular category. Its chicken offers not just convenience, but flavor and quality. It’s uniquely positioned from all the other chains that offer chicken in that there’s a “feel-good” aspect to eating each item from the menu.

“The chicken makes our offerings extremely relevant to groups and families by not only being super accessible but also fueled by quality and passion that really sort of delivers an elevated food experience, both from how it tastes but also how good you feel about eating it,” said Rodas. “I don't think anyone is near where we are from that perspective.”

The menu offers guilt-free, balanced options, so consumers don’t have to feel the regret that often comes with eating fast food. Pollo Campero is positioned in a niche that few others are in. The business offers the approach of “homemade food without cooking it yourself,” but it is able to produce at a great quantity while adhering to that quality. 

Unmatched Franchisee Support 

Rodas and Perez agreed that for the franchisee interested in investing with Pollo Campero, values must be aligned. Pollo Campero offers a strong, holistic approach to supporting its franchisees on all levels from daily operations to big-picture growth goals. 

“We're trying to help them in any way possible, not just in processes in the restaurant but also helping them to understand financials, how to hire people, how to reduce the turnover rate, how to control the cost of goods,” Perez said. “So that way they can be more successful. So we have a very strong plan of support.” 

Rodas added that, with the franchisee using his or her marketing expertise to grow the brand’s traction in whichever local market the franchise is in, corporate will join and support. The corporate team’s support for its franchisees shows, as U.S. investors are pouring into the brand after its many years of success abroad. 

“Pollo Campero has a long history in terms of being expert restaurant operators and brand managers, and so we've sort of been crafting this, I would say, superior investment opportunity for potential franchisees,” Rodas said. “And right now, there's just so much room to grow in the U.S., and we've been crafting it to a limited extent here in the U.S. — and we’ve been abroad for many years. And so now we're at a point where there's just a lot of room to grow.”

Franchisee Success 

Of the many franchisees to experience Pollo Campero’s network of support and subsequent success is Richard Summers. 

Summers, a trial lawyer in the Atlanta area for more than 40 years, signed with the brand over a decade ago and now has two Pollo Campero locations in the Atlanta area under the ownership group Madrid Group, Inc. When it comes to why they’ve seen multi-unit success with the Pollo Campero brand, Summers points to three overarching reasons: passion, people and profitability — the “three Ps.” 

“There’s a passion for this brand in the U.S. that’s really catching on,” Summers said. “Pollo Campero internationally is well-known, especially in Central and South America, as the only brand that sells both grilled chicken and fried chicken on the bone.”

Summers also pointed to the great team in Dallas that runs the U.S. operations, as they have an in-depth understanding of the brand and how to communicate with franchisees. 

“I'm on the national advisory council, and we have open forums with the leadership regularly to bounce ideas around,” explained Summers. 

He further explained that Pollo Campero’s ability to produce sales on par with any of the QSRs is impressive and speaks to the franchise model’s success. 

“The brand has aggressive plans to grow its number of stores in general, and we want to be right in the middle of that,” said Summers. “Our plan is to open a number of units in and beyond Atlanta. That's our immediate horizon — to come up with a growth plan that’s realistic but aggressive. We feel like the Pollo Campero brand is at a turning point, and the future is very bright.”

Over the past few years, Pollo Campero has optimized its business model, innovated the menu and expanded its support infrastructure. This franchisee-forward approach, along with the brand’s rabid fanbase, allowed Pollo Campero to see an impressive four consecutive years of same-store sales increases, including a record-breaking year in 2020, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Following the brand’s recent success and its proven ability to withstand even the toughest economic times, Pollo Campero is ramping up strategic franchise development efforts in markets like Arizona, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Pollo Campero is looking for qualified, passionate, multi-unit franchisees like Summers to help reach its goal of hitting 100 units by next year and 250 by the end of 2026. 

Initial investments range from $887,250 - $2,126,500*. For more information, visit: https://camperofranchise.com/.

*To see the brand’s full reported financials, please reference Pollo Campero’s Franchise Disclosure Document (updated June 7, 2021). 

ABOUT POLLO CAMPERO:

Pollo Campero is a fast-casual restaurant chain focused on delighting guests with better-chicken-offerings. Through its flavor and quality, Pollo Campero offers a unique and convenient feel-good eating experience for individual, group/family and catering occasions. Chicken entrees can be ordered either Campero Fried or Citrus-Grilled, bone in or boneless and paired with an array of fresh sides, drinks and desserts for a complete meal. Pollo Campero started as a small family-owned restaurant in Guatemala in 1971, and has grown to one of the biggest chicken chains in the world.