El Pollo Loco 'Leaps' Ahead Of Competitors To Assist New Franchisees

Fast Casual Flame-Grilled Chicken Franchise Creates ‘FROG’ Support Group

IRVINE, CA (Friday, January 27, 2006) - El Pollo Loco, a leading franchise of 330 fast casual restaurants famous for its signature citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken, announced today it has created a new department, the Franchise Restaurant Opening Group (FROG), dedicated solely to supporting new franchisees as the chain continues to open restaurants in new markets around the country.

John Phillips, who previously worked with El Pollo Loco franchisees to help build their business, has been promoted to Director of Franchise Restaurant Openings to spearhead FROG. As El Pollo Loco continues to expand nationally, the FROG support team, a cross-functional group of restaurant professionals, will be the key contact for new franchisees, from the time a development agreement is signed through the opening of a franchisee’s new restaurants, including site selection, supply chain, construction, training, marketing, public relations and operations.

“We are committed to helping our franchise partners introduce El Pollo Loco in new markets,” said Steve Carley, El Pollo Loco CEO. “FROG’s main objectives are to establish and nurture a strong working partnership with our franchisees, expose them to the El Pollo Loco brand culture and address their needs and challenges-- beginning early with the franchise sales process and continuing through the time when they are well established with multiple new restaurants open in their markets.”

El Pollo Loco began significant franchise expansion plans last year, which included the introduction of a new store prototype, designed to have broad demographic appeal and flexibility to drive growth outside of its core West Coast market. Last year, El Pollo Loco opened a new franchise in El Paso, Texas and just last month opened its first restaurant east of the Mississippi, in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. El Pollo Loco has a pipeline of 145 franchise restaurant commitments in California, Colorado, New England, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco currently operates 330 restaurants (191 franchised locations and 139 company-owned restaurants), located principally in California, with additional restaurants in Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Illinois. Headquartered in Irvine, California, El Pollo Loco, Inc. is a privately held company owned by New York–based American Securities Capital Partners, L.P. and company management. The investment firm recently announced that it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to sell the stock of EPL Holdings, Inc., the parent of El Pollo Loco, to an affiliate of Trimaran Capital Partners, L.P., a New York-based private asset management firm. El Pollo Loco management plans to participate with Trimaran in the equity investment of the company. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2005. For more information about El Pollo Loco, visit the company’s website at www.elpolloloco.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements about, among other items, the sales, revenues, products, consumer acceptance, growth rates and growth and franchising potential of El Pollo Loco, Inc. The statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, food-borne-illness incidents; increases in the cost of chicken; our dependence upon frequent deliveries of food and other supplies; our vulnerability to changes in consumer preferences and economic conditions; our ability to compete successfully with other quick service and fast casual restaurants; our ability to expand into new markets; our reliance in part on our franchises; and our ability to support our expanding franchise system; the possibility of unforeseen events affecting the industry in general. Statements about El Pollo Loco, Inc.’s past performance are not necessarily indicative of its future results. El Pollo Loco, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as the result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is not offered or disclosed in connection with an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any franchise. Any such offer or solicitation is made only through our offering circular and only in jurisdictions where such offers are lawful.

For More Infromation Please contact:
Brittny Dziadula
Fishman Public Relations
Phone: (847) 945-1300
Email: bdziadula@fishmanpr.com

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