Fiesta names presidents for Taco Cabana, Pollo TropicalFiesta names presidents for Taco Cabana, Pollo Tropical

Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc., parent to the Taco Cabana and Pollo Tropical brands, has named presidents for both of its brands, the company said Monday.

The Dallas-based fast-casual company said Chuck Locke has joined the company in the new position of Taco Cabana president. He previously served as chief operating officer at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.

Danny Meisenheimer, Fiesta’s chief operating officer, has assumed the added role as president of the Pollo Tropical brand, the company said.

For the third quarter ended Oct. 1, Fiesta reported a loss of $8.3 million, or 31 cents a share, compared to a loss of $4.5 million, or 17 cents a share, in the same period last year. Revenues fell 12.9 percent to $158.7 million from $182.3 million in the prior-year quarter. 

Fiesta closed the last of its Pollo Tropical units in Texas in September.

“Prior to the arrival of two significant hurricanes in late August and early September,” said Richard Stockinger, Fiesta CEO and president, in a statement, “we were experiencing improved sales and transaction trends at Pollo Tropical with comparable restaurant sales rebounding from high-single-digit declines to low-single-digit declines.

“After the temporary closing of all our Pollo Tropical restaurants in Florida and Atlanta due to the storms, we are pleased that sales are beginning to approach pre-hurricane comparable levels,” he said.

Same-store sales at Pollo Tropical fell 10.9 percent in the quarter, primarily driven by a decline in comparable restaurant transactions of 13.1 percent.

Same-store sales at Taco Cabana fell 12.6 percent, primarily driven by a decrease in comparable restaurant transactions of 14.3 percent.

As of Oct. 1, Fiesta had 181 Pollo Tropical restaurants and 175 Taco Cabana units.

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