How Pollo Campero Leverages 50 Years of Experience To Bring Its Franchise Opportunity to the US

Pollo Campero is an iconic chicken franchise with 50 years of proven success. The Latin American concept is leveraging that experience to expand its franchise opportunities around the United States. 

What began in Guatemala as a family-owned business with a carefully crafted menu and unique chicken recipe has now grown into a brand with nearly 400 locations worldwide. After 20 years of successfully building over 80 restaurants in markets throughout the United States, Pollo Campero has gained a huge crossover audience that extends to every demographic. 

“The chicken category is booming and shows no signs of slowing down, and Pollo Campero is one of the best opportunities in the category. Our concept is one that prioritizes flavor, quality and authenticity that’s reinforced by a best-in-class support system,” said Fernando Perez, Pollo Campero’s senior director of operations.

After earning record U.S. sales throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Pollo Campero launched a strategy in 2021 to reach 250 restaurants across the U.S. over the next five years, making it one of the dominant players in the $38 billion fast food chicken franchise segment. The brand is leveraging a proven business model, loyal fanbase and experienced leadership team to attract multi-unit, multi-brand franchisees in markets around the country. 

The brand has worked on optimizing its business model over the past few years by innovating its menu and expanding its support infrastructure. This has led to several years of same-store sales increases and major demand from business-savvy entrepreneurs who are ready to leverage a scalable opportunity.

“We offer a proven business model that, when you look at the growth activity within the existing franchise base, has allowed 90% of our franchisees to scale their operations,” said Perez. “The only reason a franchisee can grow is that the system is working. We are not only selling the brand; we are selling the support system and infrastructure. 

Part of Pollo Campero’s growth in the U.S. can be attributed to its loyal Latin and Central American customer base. The brand prides itself on its historical heritage, food culture and family-oriented atmosphere. 

“Pollo Campero has a historical and nostalgic appeal to the Central American population,” said Blas Escarcega, Pollo Campero’s director of franchise development. “Now, what has happened is that we’ve expanded that legacy customer base and realized that the brand has legs to reach more mainstream consumers in the U.S. We want to maintain the legacy piece while also bringing the opportunity to new customers and leveraging our supply chain to develop around the existing markets that we have.”

The Pollo Campero team is looking to expand that established fan base by growing in concentric circles around its successful markets.

To learn more about franchising with Pollo Campero, visit https://camperofranchise.com/.

About Pollo Campero

Family founded in Guatemala in 1971, Pollo Campero is a fast-service restaurant specializing in uniquely flavorful chicken and a diverse menu offering individual and family meals made with quality ingredients. Using family recipes passed down from generation to generation and a fried chicken recipe that is considered a national treasure of Guatemala, Pollo Campero offers tender, juicy, hand-breaded fried chicken and slow-marinated, citrus-infused grilled chicken that is always fresh and prepared daily. Pollo Campero also offers hand-selected sides inspired by the brand’s roots in Latin America. Since its beginnings as a small, family-owned restaurant, Pollo Campero has grown to more than 350 restaurants around the world. To learn more about Pollo Campero, visit us.campero.com and follow the flavor on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.