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El Pollo Loco overhauls digital platformsEl Pollo Loco overhauls digital platforms

Brand unveils new app and Loco Rewards with ‘Pollo Millionaire’ push for loyalty members

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

April 4, 2023

2 Min Read
El Pollo Loco overhauls digital app rewards
El Pollo Loco has overhauled its smartphone app and loyalty program.El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc.

El Pollo Loco Inc., the fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, has unveiled an overhaul of its smartphone app and Loco Rewards platforms, the company said Tuesday.

The Costa Mesa, Calif.-based brand said changes to the Loco Rewards program include a new tiered points status system, which unlocks benefits, content and promotions, and a streamlined redesign of the El Pollo Loco app, featuring ordering and the ability to save favorites.

El-Pollo-Loco-Earn-Points.pngTo promote the changes, El Pollo Loco said it is offering one loyalty member one million reward points, or “Pollo Millionaires,” on each of 30 days, starting April 6 and continuing through Cinco de Mayo.

Consumers can sign up for Loco Rewards via the El Pollo Loco app or online at www.elpolloloco.com/rewards.

“A customer’s choice to join our ‘familia’ as a loyalty member is one we don’t take lightly,” said Gabe Alonso, El Pollo Loco’s vice president of digital, in a statement, “and we have redesigned our Loco Rewards offers to make sharing and dining together with friends and loved ones as seamless as possible. Paired with the ease of ordering on our app, we hope to inspire more loyal customers to explore our menu of new and classic El Pollo Loco foods together.”

Changes to the Loco Rewards program include a new tiered points status system: Pollito (0-9,999 points), Pollo (10,000 – 29,999 points) and Pollo Loco (30,000 points). Each tier unlock benefits, content and promotions. Points have a 365-day lifetime before expiration.

Related:El Pollo Loco works to hold onto younger, budget-pinched customers

Existing app users can expect the update changes to be implemented through an automatic update, the company said.

For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 28, El Pollo Loco’s net income was $6.5 million, or 18 cents a share, compared to $6.2 million, or 17 cents a share, in the same period last year. Revenue increased 6.4% to $115.9 million, up from $109 million in the prior-year quarter

Same-store sales increased 4.7% in the quarter.

El Pollo Loco, founded in 1980, has 490 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Texas and Utah.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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