Irvine-based El Pollo Loco Inc. continues its bid to expand beyond Orange County.
The Mexican fast-food chain recently hired a vice president of operations, Stephen Sather, as part of the move.
Sather is an industry veteran. Most recently, he was vice president of retail operations at Great Circle Family Foods LLC, the franchise operator of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Southern California.
He also was a former chief operating officer at Rubio’s Restaurants Inc. and held various positions at Rally’s Hamburgers Inc., La Salsa Holding Co. and Taco Bell Corp.
Steve Carley, El Pollo Loco’s chief executive, said in a statement Sather will help “fuel our expansion into new markets” and maintain tight reins on operations and customer service.
El Pollo Loco has more than 330 restaurants, the bulk of which are in California and are franchised.
Last year, the chain announced growth plans, including rolling out a redesigned restaurant meant to appeal to a wider audience.
In the next few years, the chain plans to open about 145 franchise restaurants in several states, including California, Colorado, New Jersey and New York.
Late last year, Trimaran Capital Partners of New York bought El Pollo Loco for $400 million from American Securities Capital Partners LP of New York.
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OC 360: debuts in May |
Metro Magazine
There soon will be another magazine in Orange County.
South Coast Metro Alliance, a group that promotes businesses in portions of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana, teamed up with Pleasanton-based Chamber Publishing Inc. to put together a glossy magazine called OC 360.
The publication, which is slated to launch in May, will be quarterly and focus on the South Coast Metro area as well as surrounding communities from Los Angeles to San Diego.
The magazine is set to include short articles, profiles and columns about entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Some 30,000 copies are set to be distributed in South Coast Metro and other areas. The target: offices, hotels, retailers and real estate brokers. The magazine also will be mailed to corporate managers and local households with yearly incomes of $200,000 or more.
On Arrowhead Pond
The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and its home hockey team, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, continue to build their staffs.
Anaheim Arena Management LLC, which manages the Pond and the Ducks, recently hired six workers and promoted three others as it prepares for a busy year.
The latest round of hires was across the board, including in graphic design, telemarketing, media buying, sales and accounting.
The operations continue to rebuild their back-office staff after losing workers during the hockey lockout, which ended in 2005. In total, there were some 70 workers hired or promoted in the last year, said Tim Ryan, chief executive of Anaheim Arena.
The Pond and the Ducks have been big on community outreach as they try to lure more fans to the game.
The Ducks said it plans to partner with 15 ice and roller hockey rinks in the area to promote and educate kids about the sport and the team. Seven of the rinks are in OC, and the rest are spread among Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego.
The team plans to add seven more rinks to the outreach program by the start of its 2006-2007 season.
The program begins in the fall and this year includes a monthly newsletter and team stuff, such as a life-sized display of right wing Teemu Selanne, a Ducks dasherboard and a signed jersey, player photo and puck.
Looking East
Huntington Beach-based PR Talent has branched out to the East.
The shop, a recruiter for freelance and full-time public relations and corporate communications workers, opened an office in New York.
Stacey Schneider-Mandel, a former executive recruiter with The Cantor Concern, is vice president and runs the New York office.
Jim Delulio, PR Talent president, said the shop has handled several searches in the New York area through the years.
“But we really wanted to establish a full-time presence by bringing in someone who thoroughly understands the market and the talent pool,” Delulio said.
Fleetwood Mechanics
Costa Mesa-based Honest Mechanics Advertising and Brand Engineering has nabbed an account.
The shop was named agency of record for Fleetwood RV, a division of Riverside-based Fleetwood Enterprises Inc.
Honest Mechanics plans to handle a brand campaign for Fleetwood RV, including marketing materials. It also will help the company promote its name and offering, such as motor homes and trailers.
Bits and pieces:
The Newport Beach Conference & Vistors Bureau is smiling about the amount of media attention surrounding the city’s 2005 Christmas Boat parade. The parade was included in news broadcasts in 28 states, highlighted in an HGTV holiday special and featured on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” according to the bureau Costa Mesa-based Volcom Inc. is revving up for the launch of its snow movie called “Escramble.” The apparel company has worked on the flick for three years. It’s set to launch in the fall.
