Head-to-Head Franchise Intelligence
El Pollo Loco vs Popeyes
Commercial comparison of unit economics, FTC Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 19 average unit volume (AUV), startup capital requirements, and store tech stacks.
Contender 1Rank #59
El Pollo Loco
Fire-Grilled Citrus Chicken
Feel the Mexcellence
Parent Holding:El Pollo Loco Corporation
Contender 2Rank #14
Popeyes
Louisiana Fried Chicken
Love That Chicken from Popeyes
Parent Holding:Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Unit Economics & Financial Benchmarks
Verified against FTC FDD Item 19 and SEC Form 10-K regulatory disclosures.
| Metric | El Pollo Loco | Popeyes | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median AUV (Annual Sales) | $4.71M | $4.92M | Popeyes (+5%) |
| Active Store Locations | 503 | 3,196 | Popeyes (Larger Fleet) |
| Initial Investment Range | $2.20M – $4.80M | $2.20M – $4.80M | Varies by site format |
| Min Liquid Capital Required | $750k | $750k | FDD Item 7 Requirement |
| Royalty Fee % | 4.5% | 4.5% | Equal |
| National Ad Fund % | 3.0% | 3.0% | Marketing Contribution |
| Annual Systemwide Sales | $2.40B | $6.80B | System Scale |
In-Store Tech Stack
Point-of-Sale Hardware/Software
El Pollo Loco:SICOM POS / NCR
Popeyes:SICOM / NCR Aloha
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
El Pollo Loco:SICOM Kitchen Video
Popeyes:SICOM Kitchen Video
Delivery Multi-Homing
DoorDash Marketplace Penetration
El Pollo Loco:0% (0 stores)
Popeyes:0% (0 stores)
Uber Eats Marketplace Penetration
El Pollo Loco:0% (0 stores)
Popeyes:0% (0 stores)
Need deeper store-level datasets?
Explore individual geocoded address lists, multi-unit franchisee portfolios, and full FDD Item 19 exhibits.