El Pollo Loco names P&G Vendor of the YearEl Pollo Loco names P&G Vendor of the Year

El Pollo Loco has presented Procter & Gamble Professional, the away-from-home division of Procter & Gamble, with its Vendor of the Year award. P&G won for its Cleaning and Food Safety Program and was chosen from more than 100 of El Pollo Loco’s supplier partners. El Pollo Loco cited the program as a reason for its double-digit-point improvement in Cleanliness score in Nation’s Restaurant News’ and WD Partners’ 2012 Consumer Picks survey. The customized program also helped generate bottom-line savings, El Pollo Loco said.

Since El Pollo Loco began partnering with P&G Professional in January 2011, the quick-service chicken chain said it has improved its performance in nearly all categories of the Consumer Picks survey.

“Our relationship with P&G Professional is so much deeper than just buying products,” said Steve Sather, CEO and president of El Pollo Loco. “They are responsive, provide personalized training and have truly partnered with us to move El Pollo Loco toward a ‘best in class’ guest service experience.”

Eric Hetrick, commercial director, P&G Professional, said, “We understand that the customer’s perception of cleanliness directly impacts their perception of other aspects of business, as well.”

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