Few brands have had as much momentum as Portillo’s in the past few years. The iconic Chicago-based concept has begun scaling into other markets and went public last year as it also debuts a new drive-thru prototype that positions the brand as an operational innovator.
Key to that massive success is its people. Portillo’s has worked hard to recruit top talent, and is building a company culture that has helped it sustain industry-leading turnover rates.
Mike Roman, vice president of field operations, and Jill Waite, chief people officer, dropped by the Nation’s Restaurant News booth at the National Restaurant Association Show to share their key strategies for recruiting, hiring and retaining the best employees, and to discuss how they’re ensuring that the restaurant operation is strategically built for the workforce of both today and tomorrow.
