Parent company acquires Pollo Campero units from franchiseeParent company acquires Pollo Campero units from franchisee

Ron Ruggless

Campero USA Corp. has acquired seven of its Pollo Campero Latin-style chicken units from a franchisee in the Washington, D.C., area.

Campero USA bought the restaurants from American Pollo, owned by Jose R. Barahona, who was one of the chain’s first franchisees on the East Coast. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“These seven restaurants have a great reputation as established high performers within the Pollo Campero family,” said Roberto Denegri, Campero USA Corp.’s president and chief operating officer. “We are excited to add them to our corporate restaurant portfolio and further strengthen our corporate footprint in the United States.”

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An eighth Pollo Campero restaurant in Manassas, Va., is not part of the acquisition. It will remain as an independently run franchise, the company said.

Tim Pulido, chief executive of Campero USA Corp. and Pollo Campero International, said in a statement that Pollo Campero’s parent company, CMI (Corporación Multi Inversiones) of Guatemala, is “committed to growing the brand in the U.S.” Since 2010, the company has bought back franchised units in the Houston and Boston areas.

In addition to the acquisitions, the company recently introduced three modernized versions of its restaurants to the Houston market. The new restaurants feature an updated restaurant design, logo and expanded menu. A fourth location is scheduled to open in the fall.

Founded in Guatemala in 1971, the family-owned company now operates more than 345 restaurants in 14 nations, with about 50 units in the United States.

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