El Pollo Loco Introduces Chicken Tortilla Soup; Through Jan. 8, 2006, Consumers Can Enjoy a Large Serving of El Pollo Loco's New Chicken Tortilla Soup or a Large Mexican Caesar Salad for Just $1 with the Purchase of Any Family Meal

Business Wire, Oct 13, 2005

IRVINE, Calif. -- Cooler temperatures are upon us and the season for soup is here. While you might find it on the menu at select casual dining restaurants, when was the last time you saw Chicken Tortilla Soup at your favorite fast food eatery? Beginning today, you can enjoy freshly prepared Chicken Tortilla Soup at your local El Pollo Loco restaurant.

Famous for chicken that is marinated in a special blend of herbs, spices and citrus juices and then flame-grilled to perfection over an open fire, El Pollo Loco has created Chicken Tortilla Soup like no other. It combines plenty of El Pollo Loco's signature chicken in a delicious chicken broth with sliced carrots, celery and roasted corn. It is topped off with crunchy tortilla strips, fresh cilantro and Cotija cheese for a truly authentic experience.

"El Pollo Loco is always looking for exciting new ways that consumers can enjoy the marinated, flame-grilled chicken they love, and we've come up with a winner," said Karen Eadon, chief marketing officer for El Pollo Loco. "Our Chicken Tortilla Soup is truly outstanding. Featuring an assortment of fresh vegetables and exciting toppings, it also has a special ingredient no one else has -- El Pollo Loco's famous flame-grilled chicken. Plus, we make it fresh in our restaurants every day." El Pollo Loco's Chicken Tortilla Soup contains only 4.7 grams of fat and 150 calories per 10 oz. serving.

El Pollo Loco's new Chicken Tortilla Soup is available in two sizes: small, which serves one, and large, which serves three to four. Now through Jan. 8, 2006, consumers can enjoy a large Chicken Tortilla Soup or large Mexican Caesar Salad for just $1 with the purchase of any family meal. Also available is a soup & salad combo featuring a small Chicken Tortilla Soup, a Mexican Caesar Salad and a small drink for just $5.99 at company restaurants.

El Pollo Loco's new Chicken Tortilla Soup will be communicated to consumers through a multi-media campaign. Beginning Oct. 17, new 15-second and 30-second television spots featuring the Master of the El Pollo Loco Flame will air in select West Coast markets. Spanish language television spots will communicate the company's offer of $1 Chicken Tortilla Soup or Mexican Caesar Salad with the purchase of a family meal. At the restaurant level, El Pollo Loco's new Chicken Tortilla Soup will be communicated through a wide mix of interior and exterior point-of-purchase vehicles, including roof banners, window clings, translites, and drive-thru communication.

El Pollo Loco Inc., a privately held company with headquarters in Irvine, offers a wide variety of fresh Mexican entrees (the Pollo Bowl(R), made-to-order grilled burritos, Pollo Salads, tacos al carbon, and more) along with individual and family meals featuring its famous flame-grilled chicken. The company currently operates 329 restaurants in five states: California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Illinois. For more information about El Pollo Loco, visit the company's Web site at www.elpolloloco.com.