SEC Filing | El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)


☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 27, 2024


☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-36556

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		20-3563182
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100, Costa Mesa, California		92626
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(714) 599-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	LOCO	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Rights to Purchase Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large Accelerated Filer	☐	Accelerated Filer	☒

Non-accelerated Filer	☐	Smaller Reporting Company	☐

		Emerging Growth Company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No

As of April 26, 2024, there were 31,099,611 shares of the issuer’s common stock outstanding.

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Table of Contents		Page

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION		3
Item 1. Financial Statements.		3
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)		3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)		4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)		5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)		6
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)		7
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)		8
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.		25
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.		39
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.		40

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION		42
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.		42
Item 1A. Risk Factors.		42
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.		42
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.		43
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.		43
Item 5. Other Information.		43
Item 6. Exhibits.		44
Signatures		46

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)


	March 27,		December 27,
	2024		2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,121	$	7,288
Accounts and other receivables, net		10,613		10,148
Inventories		1,736		1,911
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5,361		5,634
Income tax receivable		—		153
Total current assets		26,831		25,134
Property and equipment, net		86,304		84,027
Property and equipment held under finance lease, net		1,635		1,528
Property and equipment held under operating leases, net ("ROU asset")		169,628		168,007
Goodwill		248,674		248,674
Trademarks		61,888		61,888
Other assets		3,063		3,043
Total assets	$	598,023	$	592,301
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of obligations under finance leases	$	168	$	140
Current portion of obligations under operating leases		19,640		19,490
Accounts payable		11,881		12,541
Accrued salaries and vacation		6,877		9,332
Accrued insurance		11,739		11,831
Accrued income taxes payable		2,185		70
Accrued interest		325		394
Current portion of income tax receivable agreement payable		422		422
Other accrued expenses and current liabilities		21,984		18,361
Total current liabilities		75,221		72,581
Revolver loan		80,000		84,000
Obligations under finance leases, net of current portion		1,703		1,617
Obligations under operating leases, net of current portion		169,617		168,084
Deferred taxes		8,813		8,878
Other noncurrent liabilities		6,380		6,445
Total liabilities		341,734		341,605
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 100,000 shares designated as Series A Preferred Stock; none issued or outstanding		—		—
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 31,179,519 and 31,353,223 shares issued and outstanding as of March 27, 2024 and December 27, 2023, respectively		312		313
Additional paid-in-capital		236,103		236,421
Retained earnings		19,874		13,962
Total stockholders’ equity		256,289		250,696
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	598,023	$	592,301

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

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EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)



	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Revenue
Company-operated restaurant revenue	$	97,153	$	97,873
Franchise revenue		11,348		9,672
Franchise advertising fee revenue		7,652		6,981
Total revenue		116,153		114,526
Cost of operations
Food and paper cost		25,619		26,902
Labor and related expenses		30,580		31,541
Occupancy and other operating expenses		23,865		24,886
Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, lost profits, net		—		(151)
Company restaurant expenses		80,064		83,178
General and administrative expenses		11,925		11,199
Franchise expenses		10,602		9,032
Depreciation and amortization		3,851		3,637
Loss on disposal of assets		41		30
Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, property, equipment and expenses		(41)		(242)
Gain on disposition of restaurants		—		(136)
Impairment and closed-store reserves		32		77
Total expenses		106,474		106,775
Income from operations		9,679		7,751
Interest expense, net		1,564		1,004
Income tax receivable agreement income		—		(122)
Income before provision for income taxes		8,115		6,869
Provision for income taxes		2,203		1,951
Net income	$	5,912	$	4,918
Net income per share
Basic	$	0.19	$	0.14
Diluted	$	0.19	$	0.13
Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share
Basic		30,777,769		36,234,105
Diluted		30,937,226		36,478,158

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

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EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in thousands)



	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Net income	$	5,912	$	4,918
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Changes in derivative instruments
Reclassifications of (loss) gains into net income		—		(85)
Income tax benefit		—		22
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes		—		(63)
Comprehensive income	$	5,912	$	4,855

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

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EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)


	Thirteen Weeks Ended March 27, 2024
								Accumulated
				Additional				Other		Total
	Common Stock			Paid-in		Retained		Comprehensive		Stockholders’
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Earnings		(Loss) Income		Equity
Balance, December 27, 2023	31,353,223	$	313	$	236,421	$	13,962	$	—	$	250,696
Stock-based compensation	—		—		920		—		—		920
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net	5		—		—		—		—		—
Repurchase of common stock	(136,400)		(1)		(1,226)		—		—		(1,227)
Repurchase of common stock - excise tax	—		—		(12)		—		—		(12)
Forfeiture of common stock related to restricted shares	(37,309)		—		—		—		—		—
Net income	—		—		—		5,912		—		5,912
Balance, March 27, 2024	31,179,519	$	312	$	236,103	$	19,874	$	—	$	256,289

	Thirteen Weeks Ended March 29, 2023
								Accumulated
				Additional				Other		Total
	Common Stock			Paid-in		Accumulated		Comprehensive		Stockholders’
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Deficit		(Loss) Income		Equity
Balance, December 28, 2022	37,008,061	$	370	$	292,244	$	(11,592)	$	126	$	281,148
Stock-based compensation	—		—		771		—		—		771
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net	4,344		—		43		—		—		43
Repurchase of common stock	(552,349)		(6)		(6,205)		—		—		(6,211)
Repurchase of common stock - excise tax	—		—		(62)		—		—		(62)
Forfeiture of common stock related to restricted shares	(9,579)		—		—		—		—		—
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	—		—		—		—		(63)		(63)
Net income	—		—		—		4,918		—		4,918
Balance, March 29, 2023	36,450,477	$	364	$	286,791	$	(6,674)	$	63	$	280,544

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

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EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in thousands)



	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	5,912	$	4,918
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		3,851		3,637
Stock-based compensation expense		920		771
Income tax receivable agreement income		—		(122)
Fire insurance proceeds for expenses paid and lost profit		—		151
Gain on disposition of restaurants		—		(136)
Loss on disposal of assets		41		30
Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, property, equipment and expenses, net		—		(242)
Impairment of property and equipment		—		40
Amortization of deferred financing costs		48		58
Deferred income taxes, net		(65)		723
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables		(312)		(2,218)
Inventories		175		335
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		273		(1,073)
Income taxes payable		2,115		1,142
Other assets		(67)		(51)
Accounts payable		(2,732)		(806)
Accrued salaries and vacation		(2,455)		(1,733)
Accrued insurance		(92)		173
Other accrued expenses and liabilities		3,551		(1,778)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities		11,163		3,819
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from disposition of restaurants		—		162
Proceeds from fire insurance for property and equipment		41		138
Purchase of property and equipment		(4,162)		(5,980)
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(4,121)		(5,680)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on revolver and swingline loan		(4,000)		(8,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net of expenses		—		43
Payment of obligations under finance leases		(48)		(38)
Repurchases of common stock		(1,161)		(5,848)
Net cash flows used in by financing activities		(5,209)		(13,843)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		1,833		(15,704)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		7,288		20,493
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	9,121	$	4,789



	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for interest	$	1,595	$	1,014
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	$	—	$	—
Unpaid purchases of property and equipment	$	7,105	$	3,872
Unpaid repurchases of common stock	$	65	$	425

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

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.EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Overview

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the “Company.” The Company’s activities are conducted principally through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“EPL”), which develops, franchises, licenses, and operates quick-service restaurants under the name El Pollo Loco® and operates under one operating segment. At March 27, 2024, the Company operated 172 and franchised 323 El Pollo Loco restaurants.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full year. The condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes do not include all information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual reports. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2023.

The Company uses a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Wednesday of the calendar year. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarter includes 13 weeks of operations; in a 53-week fiscal year, the first, second and third quarters each include 13 weeks of operations, and the fourth quarter includes 14 weeks of operations. Every six or seven years, a 53-week fiscal year occurs. Fiscal 2024 and 2023 are both 52-week years, ending on December 25, 2024 and December 27, 2023, respectively. Revenues, expenses, and other financial and operational figures may be elevated in a 53-week year.

Holdings has no material assets or operations. Holdings and Holdings’ direct subsidiary, EPL Intermediate, Inc. (“Intermediate”), guarantee EPL’s 2022 Revolver (as defined below) on a full and unconditional basis (see Note 4, “Long-Term Debt”), and Intermediate has no subsidiaries other than EPL. EPL is a separate and distinct legal entity and has no obligation to make funds available to Intermediate. EPL and Intermediate may pay dividends to Intermediate and to Holdings, respectively, subject to the terms of the 2022 Revolver.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and revenue and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates include estimates for impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment, insurance reserves, lease accounting matters and contingent liabilities.

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Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Liquidity

The Company’s principal liquidity and capital requirements are new restaurants, existing restaurant capital investments (remodels and maintenance), interest payments on its debt, lease obligations and working capital and general corporate needs. At March 27, 2024, the Company’s total debt was $80.0 million. The Company’s ability to make payments on its indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures depends on available cash and its ability to generate adequate cash flows in the future, which, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond the Company’s control. Based on current operations, the Company believes that its cash flow from operations, available cash of $9.1 million at March 27, 2024, and the outstanding borrowing availability under the 2022 Revolver will be adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs for the next twelve months from the date of filing of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to the quarter-end, the Company paid down $5.0 million on its 2022 Revolver resulting in outstanding borrowings as of May 2, 2024 of $75.0 million.

Concentration of Risk

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, these balances may exceed federally-insured limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances.

The Company had no supplier for which amounts due totaled more than 10.0% of the Company’s accounts payable at March 27, 2024. As of December 27, 2023, the Company had one supplier to whom amounts due totaled 15.1% of the Company’s accounts payable. Purchases from the Company’s largest supplier totaled 24.7% of total expenses for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, and 26.5% of total expenses for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, respectively.

Company-operated and franchised restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area generated, in the aggregate, approximately 71.5% of total revenue for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, and 70.7% for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023.

Goodwill and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets

The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trademarks. Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of net identified assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. The Company does not amortize its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Goodwill resulted from the acquisition of certain franchise locations.

Upon the sale or refranchising of a restaurant, the Company evaluates whether there is a decrement of goodwill. The amount of goodwill included in the cost basis of the asset sold is determined based on the relative fair value of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of compared to the fair value of the reporting unit retained. The Company reports as one reporting unit. The fair value of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of in a refranchising is determined by reference to the discounted value of the future cash flows expected to be generated by the restaurant and retained by the franchisee, which includes a deduction for the anticipated, future royalties the franchisee will pay the Company associated with the franchise agreement entered into simultaneously with the refranchising transition. The fair value of the reporting unit retained is based on the price a willing buyer would pay for the reporting unit and includes the value of franchise agreements. As such, the fair value of the reporting unit retained can include expected cash flows from future royalties from those restaurants currently being refranchised, future royalties from existing franchise businesses and company restaurant operations. The Company did not record any decrement to goodwill related to the disposition of restaurants in fiscal 2023 or the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024.

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The Company performs an annual impairment test for goodwill during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment utilizing either a qualitative assessment or a fair value test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the Company decides that it is appropriate to perform a qualitative assessment and concludes that the fair value of a reporting unit more likely than not exceeds its carrying value, no further evaluation is necessary. If the Company performs the fair value test, the Company will compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

The Company performs an annual impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. An impairment test consists of either a qualitative assessment or a comparison of the fair value of an intangible asset with its carrying amount. The excess of the carrying amount of an intangible asset over its fair value is recognized as an impairment loss.

The assumptions used in the estimate of fair value are generally consistent with the past performance of the Company’s reporting segment and are also consistent with the projections and assumptions that are used in current operating plans. These assumptions are subject to change as a result of changing economic and competitive conditions.

The Company determined that there were no indicators of potential impairment of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024. Accordingly, the Company did not record any impairment to its goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

●

Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

●

Level 2: Observable prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or significant value drivers are observable.

●

Level 3: Unobservable inputs used when little or no market data is available.

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. In other words, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (e.g., when there is evidence of impairment).

There were no non-financial instruments measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of and for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024.

The following non-financial instruments were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of and for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, reflecting certain property and equipment assets and ROU assets for which an impairment loss was recognized during the corresponding periods, as discussed immediately below under “Impairment of Property and Equipment and ROU Assets” (in thousands):


									Thirteen Weeks
			Fair Value Measurements at March 29, 2023 Using						Ended March 29, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Impairment Losses
Certain ROU assets, net	$	275	$	—	$	—	$	275	$	39

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Impairment of Property and Equipment and ROU Assets

The Company reviews its property and equipment and ROU assets for impairment on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of certain property and equipment and ROU assets may not be recoverable. The Company considers a triggering event related to property and equipment assets or ROU assets in a net asset position to have occurred related to a specific restaurant if the restaurant’s average unit volume for the last twelve months is less than a minimum threshold or if consistent levels of undiscounted cash flows for the remaining lease period are less than the carrying value of the restaurant’s assets. Additionally, the Company considers a triggering event related to ROU assets to have occurred related to a specific lease if the location has closed or been subleased and future estimated sublease income is less than lease payments under the head lease. If the Company concludes that the carrying value of certain property and equipment and ROU assets will not be recovered based on expected undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment loss is recorded to reduce the property and equipment or ROU assets to their estimated fair value. The fair value is measured on a nonrecurring basis using unobservable (Level 3) inputs. There is uncertainty in the projected undiscounted future cash flows used in the Company’s impairment review analysis, which requires the use of estimates and assumptions. If actual performance does not achieve the projections, or if the assumptions used change in the future, the Company may be required to recognize impairment charges in future periods, and such charges could be material. The Company determined that triggering events occurred for certain restaurants during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 that required an impairment review of certain of the Company’s property and equipment and ROU assets. Based on the results of the analysis, the Company did not record any non-cash impairment charges for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024.

The Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of less than $0.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, primarily related to the carrying value of the ROU assets of one restaurant in California. For this restaurant, if expected performance is not realized, an impairment charge may be recognized in future periods, and such charge could be material.

Closed-Store Reserves

When a restaurant is closed, the Company will evaluate the ROU asset for impairment, based on anticipated sublease recoveries. The remaining value of the ROU asset is amortized on a straight-line basis, with the expense recognized in closed-store reserve expense. Additionally, any property tax and common area maintenance (“CAM”) payments relating to closed restaurants are included within closed-store expense. During both the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023, the Company recognized less than $0.1 million of closed-store reserve expense related to the amortization of ROU assets, property taxes and CAM payments for its closed locations.

Gain on Recovery of Insurance Proceeds, Lost Profits

During fiscal 2022, one of the Company’s restaurants incurred damage resulting from a fire. In fiscal 2023, the Company incurred costs directly related to the fire of less than $0.1 million. The Company recognized gains of $0.2 million, related to the reimbursement of property and equipment and expenses incurred and $0.2 million related to the reimbursement of lost profits. The gain on recovery of insurance proceeds and reimbursement of lost profits, net of the related costs, is included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income, for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, as a reduction of company restaurant expenses. The Company received from the insurance company cash of $0.4 million, net of the insurance deductible, during fiscal 2023.

Gain on Disposition of Restaurants

During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, the Company completed the sale of one restaurant within California to an existing franchisee. The Company has determined that this restaurant disposition represents multiple element arrangements, and as a result, the cash consideration received was allocated to the separate elements based on its relative standalone selling price. Cash proceeds included upfront consideration for the sale of the restaurant and franchise fees. The cash consideration per restaurant related to franchise fees is consistent with the amounts stated in the related franchise agreement, which are charged for separate standalone arrangements. The Company initially defers and subsequently recognizes the franchise fees over the term of the franchise agreement. During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, this sale resulted in cash proceeds of $0.2 million and a net gain on sale of restaurant of $0.1 million. Since the date of their sale, this restaurant is now included in the total number of franchised El Pollo Loco restaurants.

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Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes, income taxes payable and deferred income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. On a periodic basis, the Company assesses the probability that its net deferred tax assets, if any, will be recovered. If, after evaluating all of the positive and negative evidence, a conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be recovered, a valuation allowance is provided by charging to tax expense a reserve for the portion of deferred tax assets which are not expected to be realized.

The Company reviews its filing positions for all open tax years in all U.S. federal and state jurisdictions where the Company is required to file.

When there are uncertainties related to potential income tax benefits, in order to qualify for recognition, the position the Company takes has to have at least a “more likely than not” chance of being sustained (based on the position’s technical merits) upon challenge by the respective authorities. The term “more likely than not” means a likelihood of more than 50 percent. Otherwise, the Company may not recognize any of the potential tax benefit associated with the position. The Company recognizes a benefit for a tax position that meets the “more likely than not” criterion at the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon its effective resolution. Unrecognized tax benefits involve management’s judgment regarding the likelihood of the benefit being sustained. The final resolution of uncertain tax positions could result in adjustments to recorded amounts and may affect the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had no accrual for interest or penalties at March 27, 2024 or at December 27, 2023. The Company did not recognize interest or penalties during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023, respectively, since there were no material unrecognized tax benefits. Management believes no significant changes to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will occur within the next twelve months.

On July 30, 2014, the Company entered into the income tax receivable agreement (the “TRA”), which calls for the Company to pay to its pre-initial public offering (“IPO”) stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that the Company realizes in its income taxes as a result of utilizing its net operating losses (“NOLs”) and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, the Company did not record any income tax receivable agreement income or expense, and for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, the Company recorded income tax receivable agreement income of $0.1 million, in each case, related to the amortization of interest expense related to the total expected TRA payments and changes in estimates for actual tax returns filed and future forecasted taxable income.

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $2.2 million, reflecting an estimated effective tax rate of 27.1%. For the quarter ended March 29, 2023, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $2.0 million, reflecting an estimated effective tax rate of approximately 28.4%. The difference between the 21.0% statutory rate and the effective tax rate of 27.1% for the quarter ended March 27, 2024 is primarily a result of state taxes, a non-deductible executive compensation, partially offset by a Work Opportunity Tax Credit benefit.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosure.” The ASU updates reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through requiring enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and information used to assess segment performance. These disclosures are required quarterly. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. It is required to be adopted retrospectively for all prior periods presented in the financial statements The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures.” The ASU includes amendments requiring enhanced income tax disclosures, primarily related to

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standardization and disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied prospectively with the option of retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures.

The Company reviewed all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they were either not applicable or not expected to have a significant impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

2. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The costs and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of major classes of property and equipment are as follows (in thousands):


	March 27, 2024		December 27, 2023
Land	$	12,323	$	12,323
Buildings and improvements		149,209		148,259
Other property and equipment		88,158		86,423
Construction in progress		10,323		7,270
		260,013		254,275
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(173,709)		(170,248)
	$	86,304	$	84,027

Depreciation expense was $3.9 million and $3.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023, respectively.

Based on the Company’s review of its property and equipment assets for impairment, the Company did not record any non-cash impairment charges for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023, respectively. See Note 1, “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Impairment of Property and Equipment Assets and ROU Assets” for additional information.

3. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Options

At March 27, 2024, options to purchase 792,165 shares of common stock were outstanding, including 375,412 vested and 416,753 unvested options. Unvested options vest over time; however, upon a change in control, the Board of Directors may accelerate vesting. At March 27, 2024, there were no premium options, which are options granted above the stock price at date of grant, that were outstanding. A summary of stock option activity at March 27, 2024 and changes during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 is as follows:


				Weighted-Average		Aggregate
		Weighted-Average		Contractual Life		Intrinsic Value
	Shares	Exercise Price		Life (Years)		(in thousands)
Outstanding – December 27, 2023	843,320	$	10.13
Exercised	(5)		9.04
Forfeited, cancelled or expired	(51,150)	$	9.90
Outstanding – March 27, 2024	792,165	$	10.14		6.08	$	94
Vested and expected to vest at March 27, 2024	786,160	$	11.12		6.06	$	92
Exercisable at March 27, 2024	375,412	$	10.15		3.01	$	7

At March 27, 2024, the Company had total unrecognized compensation expense of $1.4 million related to unvested stock options, which it expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.70 years.

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Restricted Shares

A summary of restricted share activity as of March 27, 2024 and changes during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 is as follows:


		Weighted-Average
	Shares	Fair Value
Unvested shares at December 27, 2023	537,461	$	9.94
Forfeited, cancelled, or expired	(37,309)	$	10.91
Unvested shares at March 27, 2024	500,152	$	9.87

Unvested shares at March 27, 2024, included 458,189 unvested restricted shares and 41,963 unvested restricted units.

At March 27, 2024, the Company had unrecognized compensation expense of $2.7 million related to unvested restricted shares, which it expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.43 years and unrecognized compensation expense of $0.2 million related to unvested restricted units, which it expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 0.62 years.

Total stock-based compensation expense was $0.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, and $0.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023.

Share Repurchase Program

On November 2, 2023, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program (“Share Repurchase Program”) under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $20,000,000 of shares of the Company’s common stock. Under the Share Repurchase Program, the Company is permitted to repurchase its common stock from time to time, in amounts and at prices that the Company deemed appropriate, subject to market conditions and other considerations. Pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program, the Company is authorized to effect repurchases using open market purchases, including pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and/or through privately negotiated transactions. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular number of shares. The repurchase program will terminate on March 31, 2025.

Further, on December 4, 2023, the Company repurchased 1.5 million shares for a total purchase price of $12.6 million under the Stock Repurchase Agreement with FS Equity Partners V, L.P. and FS Affiliates V, L.P. Following completion of this repurchase, approximately $7.4 million of the Company’s common stock remained available for repurchase under the share repurchase program at December 27, 2023.

For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, the Company repurchased 136,400 shares of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program, using open market purchases, for total consideration of approximately $1.2 million. Following completion of these repurchases, approximately $6.2 million of the Company’s common stock remained available for repurchase under the Share Repurchase Program at March 27, 2024.

4. LONG-TERM DEBT

On July 27, 2022, the Company refinanced and terminated its credit agreement (the “2018 Credit Agreement”) among EPL, as borrower, the Company and Intermediate, as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender, and letter of credit issuer, the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto, which provided for a $150.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “2018 Revolver”). The 2018 Revolver was refinanced pursuant to a credit agreement (the “2022 Credit Agreement”) among EPL, as borrower, the Company and Intermediate, as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender, and letter of credit issuer, the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto, which provides for a $150.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “2022 Revolver”). In connection with the refinancing, the 2018 Credit Agreement was terminated.

The 2022 Revolver includes a sub limit of $15.0 million for letters of credit and a sub limit of $15.0 million for swingline loans. The 2022 Revolver and 2022 Credit Agreement will mature on July 27, 2027. The obligations under the 2022 Credit Agreement and related loan documents are guaranteed by Holdings and Intermediate. The obligations of

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Holdings, EPL and Intermediate under the 2022 Credit Agreement and related loan documents are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of their respective assets subject to certain customary exceptions.

The special dividend announced by the Company’s Board of Directors on October 11, 2022 was permitted under the terms of 2022 Revolver pursuant to both subclause (iii)(d) and (iii)(e) of the following sentence. Under the 2022 Revolver, Holdings is restricted from making certain payments such as cash dividends, except that it may, inter alia, (i) pay up to $1.0 million per year to repurchase or redeem qualified equity interests of Holdings held by past or present officers, directors, or employees (or their estates) of the Company upon death, disability, or termination of employment, (ii) pay under its TRA, and (iii) so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing, (a) make non-cash repurchases of equity interests in connection with the exercise of stock options by directors, officers and management, provided that those equity interests represent a portion of the consideration of the exercise price of those stock options, (b) pay up to $0.5 million in any 12 month consecutive period to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire equity interests of any subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary from any holder of equity interest in such subsidiary, (c) pay up to $2.5 million per year pursuant to stock option plans, employment agreements, or incentive plans, (d) make up to $5.0 million in other restricted payments per year, and (e) make other restricted payments, subject to its compliance, on a pro forma basis, with (x) a lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio not to exceed 4.25 times and (y) the financial covenants applicable to the 2022 Revolver.

Borrowings under the 2022 Credit Agreement (other than any swingline loans) bear interest, at the borrower’s option, at rates based upon either the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) or a base rate, plus, for each rate, a margin determined in accordance with a lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio-based pricing grid. The base rate is calculated as the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the published Bank of America prime rate, or (c) Term SOFR (as defined in the 2022 Credit Agreement) with a term of one-month SOFR plus 1.00%. For Term SOFR loans, the margin is in the range of 1.25% to 2.25%, and for base rate loans the margin is in a range of 0.25% to 1.25%. Borrowings under the 2022 Revolver may be repaid and reborrowed. The interest rate range under the 2022 Revolver was 6.92% to 6.96% for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, and 5.69% to 6.30% for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023.

The 2022 Credit Agreement contains certain customary financial covenants, subject to certain exceptions. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants as of March 27, 2024.

At March 27, 2024, the Company had $80.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the 2022 Revolver and one letter of credit in the amount of $9.8 million outstanding, and as a result, the Company had $60.2 million in borrowing availability.

Maturities, Borrowings and Paydowns

On July 27, 2022, the Company refinanced and terminated the 2018 Revolver pursuant to the 2022 Credit Agreement. During the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023 the Company paid down $4.0 million and $8.0 million, respectively, on the 2022 Revolver. No amounts were borrowed on the 2022 Revolver during both the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023. There are no required principal payments prior to maturity for the 2022 Revolver which matures on July 27, 2027.

Interest Rate Swap

During the year ended December 25, 2019, the Company entered into a variable-to-fixed interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $40.0 million with a maturity date in June 2023. The objective of the interest rate swap was to reduce the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk for a portion of its variable-rate interest payments on its borrowings under the 2018 Revolver. The interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge, as the changes in the future cash flows of the swap were expected to offset changes in expected future interest payments on the related variable-rate debt, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815 “Derivatives and Hedging.”

In connection with the Company’s entry into the 2022 Credit Agreement, it terminated the interest rate swap on July 28, 2022, which was previously used to hedge interest rate risk. Prior to the interest rate swap termination, the swap was a highly effective cash flow hedge. In settlement of this swap, the Company received approximately $0.6 million and derecognized the corresponding interest rate swap asset. The remaining amount in AOCI related to the hedging relationship was reclassified into earnings when the hedged forecasted transaction was reported in earnings.

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As of March 27, 2024, there were no estimated net gains to be included in AOCI related to the Company’s cash flow hedge that would be reclassified into earnings, based on current Term SOFR interest rates.

The following table summarizes the effect of the Company’s cash flow hedge accounting on the condensed consolidated statements of income (in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Interest expense on hedged portion of debt	$	—	$	—
Interest income on interest rate swap		—		(85)
Interest income on debt and derivatives, net	$	—	$	(85)

The following table summarizes the effect of the Company’s cash flow hedge accounting on AOCI for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023 (in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
					Gain Reclassified from
	Net Gain Recognized in OCI				AOCI into Interest Income
	March 27, 2024			March 29, 2023	March 27, 2024			March 29, 2023
Interest rate swap	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(85)

See Note 1, “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for information about the fair value of the Company’s derivative asset.

5. OTHER ACCRUED EXPENSES AND CURRENT LIABILITIES

Other accrued expenses and current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):


	March 27, 2024		December 27, 2023
Accrued sales and property taxes	$	5,666	$	5,229
Gift card liability		4,497		4,877
Loyalty rewards program liability		711		687
Accrued advertising		6,035		3,010
Accrued legal settlements and professional fees		926		720
Deferred franchise and development fees		571		586
Other		3,578		3,252
Total other accrued expenses and current liabilities	$	21,984	$	18,361

6. OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES

Other noncurrent liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):


	March 27, 2024		December 27, 2023
Deferred franchise and development fees	$	6,348	$	6,411
Other		32		34
Total other noncurrent liabilities	$	6,380	$	6,445

7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Matters

The Company is involved in various claims such as wage and hour and other legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. The outcomes of these actions are not predictable but the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these other actions will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, liquidity, or capital resources. A significant increase in the number of claims, or an increase in amounts owing under

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successful claims, could materially and adversely affect its business, condensed consolidated financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Purchasing Commitments

The Company has long-term beverage supply agreements with certain major beverage vendors. Pursuant to the terms of these arrangements, marketing rebates are provided to the Company and its franchisees from the beverage vendors based upon the dollar volume of purchases for system-wide restaurants which will vary according to their demand for beverage syrup and fluctuations in the market rates for beverage syrup. These contracts have terms extending through the end of 2024.

At March 27, 2024, the Company’s total estimated commitment to purchase chicken was $24.8 million.

Contingent Lease Obligations

As a result of assigning the Company’s interest in obligations under real estate leases in connection with the sale of company-operated restaurants to some of the Company’s franchisees, the Company is contingently liable on three lease agreements. These leases have various terms, the latest of which expires in 2038. As of March 27, 2024, the potential amount of undiscounted payments the Company could be required to make in the event of non-payment by the primary lessee was $3.6 million. The present value of these potential payments discounted at the Company’s estimated pre-tax cost of debt at March 27, 2024 was $2.5 million. The Company’s franchisees are primarily liable on the leases. The Company has cross-default provisions with these franchisees that would put them in default of their franchise agreements in the event of non-payment under the leases. The Company believes that these cross-default provisions reduce the risk that payments will be required to be made under these leases.

Employment Agreements

As of March 27, 2024, the Company had employment agreements with three of the officers of the Company. These agreements provide for minimum salary levels, possible annual adjustments for cost-of-living changes, and incentive bonuses that are payable under certain business conditions.

Indemnification Agreements

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors and officers. These agreements require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Company and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. The Company also intends to enter into indemnification agreements with future directors and officers.

8. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023. Diluted EPS is calculated using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding and potentially dilutive during the period, using the treasury stock method.

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Below are basic and diluted EPS data for the periods indicated (in thousands except for share and per share data):



	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Numerator:
Net income	$	5,912	$	4,918
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding—basic		30,777,769		36,234,105
Weighted-average shares outstanding—diluted		30,937,226		36,478,158
Net income per share—basic	$	0.19	$	0.14
Net income per share—diluted	$	0.19	$	0.13
Anti-dilutive securities not considered in diluted EPS calculation		840,830		645,356

Below is a reconciliation of basic and diluted share counts:



	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024	March 29, 2023
Weighted-average shares outstanding—basic	30,777,769	36,234,105
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted shares	159,457	244,053
Weighted-average shares outstanding—diluted	30,937,226	36,478,158

9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

None.

10. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

Revenue Recognition

Nature of products and services

The Company has two revenue streams, company-operated restaurant revenue and franchise related revenue.

Company-operated restaurant revenue

Revenues from the operation of company-operated restaurants are recognized as food and beverage products are delivered to customers and payment is tendered at the time of sale. The Company presents sales, net of sales-related taxes and promotional allowances.

The Company offers a loyalty rewards program, which awards points to a customer for dollars spent. Customers earn points for each dollar spent and points can be redeemed for multiple redemption options. If a customer does not earn or use points within a one-year period, their account is deactivated and all points expire. When a customer is part of the rewards program, the obligation to provide future discounts related to points earned is considered a separate performance obligation, to which a portion of the transaction price is allocated. The performance obligation related to loyalty points is deemed to have been satisfied, and the amount deferred in the balance sheet is recognized as revenue, when the points are transferred to a reward and redeemed, the reward or points have expired, or the likelihood of redemption is remote. A portion of the transaction price is allocated to loyalty points, if necessary, on a pro-rata basis, based on stand-alone selling price, as determined by menu pricing and loyalty points terms. As of both March 27, 2024 and December 27, 2023, the revenue allocated to loyalty points that have not been redeemed was $0.7 million, which is reflected in the Company’s accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets within other accrued expenses and current liabilities. The Company expects the loyalty points to be redeemed and recognized over a one-year period.

The Company sells gift cards to its customers in the restaurants and through selected third parties. The gift cards sold to customers have no stated expiration dates and are subject to actual and/or potential escheatment rights in several of the

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jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Furthermore, due to these escheatment rights, the Company does not recognize breakage related to the sale of gift cards due to the immateriality of the amount remaining after escheatment. The Company recognizes income from gift cards when redeemed by the customer. Unredeemed gift card balances are deferred and recorded as other accrued expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Franchise and franchise advertising revenue

Franchise revenue consists of franchise royalties, initial franchise fees, license fees due from franchisees, IT support services, and rental income for subleases to franchisees. Franchise advertising revenue consists of advertising contributions received from franchisees. These revenue streams are made up of the following performance obligations:

●

Franchise license - inclusive of advertising services, development agreements, training, access to plans and help desk services.

●

Discounted renewal option.

●

Hardware services.

The Company satisfies the performance obligation related to the franchise license over the term of the franchise agreement, which is typically 20 years. Payment for the franchise license consists of three components, a fixed-fee related to the franchise/development agreement, a sales-based royalty fee and a sales-based advertising fee. The fixed fee, as determined by the signed development and/or franchise agreement, is due at the time the development agreement is entered into, and/or when the franchise agreement is signed, and does not include a finance component.

The sales-based royalty fee and sales-based advertising fee are considered variable consideration and will continue to be recognized as revenue as such sales are earned by the franchisees. Both sales-based fees qualify under the royalty constraint exception, and do not require an estimate of future transaction price. Additionally, the Company is utilizing the practical expedient available under ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“Topic 606”) regarding disclosure of the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that are unsatisfied for sales-based royalties.

In certain franchise agreements, the Company offers a discounted renewal to incentivize future renewals after the end of the initial franchise term. As this is considered a separate performance obligation, the Company allocates a portion of the initial franchise fee to this discounted renewal, on a pro-rata basis, assuming a 20-year renewal. This performance obligation is satisfied over the renewal term, typically 10 or 20 years, while payment is fixed and due at the time the renewal is signed.

The Company purchases hardware, such as scanners, printers, cash registers and tablets, from third party vendors, which it then sells to franchisees. As the Company is considered the principal in this relationship, payment for the hardware is considered revenue, and is received upon transfer of the goods from the Company to the franchisee. As of March 27, 2024, there were no performance obligations related to hardware services that were unsatisfied or partially satisfied.

The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by geographic market:


	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Greater Los Angeles area market	71.5	%	70.7	%
Other markets	28.5	%	29.3	%
Total	100	%	100	%

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Contract balances

The following table provides information about the change in the franchise contract liability balances during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023 (in thousands):


December 27, 2023	$	6,997
Revenue recognized - beginning balance		(158)
Additional contract liability		80
March 27, 2024	$	6,919

December 28, 2022	$	6,377
Revenue recognized - beginning balance		(214)
Additional contract liability		289
March 29, 2023	$	6,452

The Company’s franchise contract liability includes development fees, initial franchise and license fees, franchise renewal fees, lease subsidies and royalty discounts and is included within other accrued expenses and current liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities within the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company receives area development fees from franchisees when they execute multi-unit area development agreements. Initial franchise and license fees, or franchise renewal fees, are received from franchisees upon the execution of, or renewal of, a franchise agreement. Revenue is recognized from these agreements as the underlying performance obligation is satisfied, which is over the term of the agreement.

The following table illustrates the estimated revenue to be recognized in future periods related to performance obligations under the applicable contracts that are unsatisfied as of March 27, 2024 (in thousands):


Franchise revenues:
2024	$	445
2025		560
2026		538
2027		517
2028		486
Thereafter		4,373
Total	$	6,919

Changes in the loyalty rewards program liability included in deferred revenue within other accrued expenses and current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):


	March 27, 2024		December 27, 2023
Loyalty rewards liability, beginning balance	$	687	$	526
Revenue deferred		503		2,065
Revenue recognized		(479)		(1,904)
Loyalty rewards liability, ending balance	$	711	$	687

The Company expects all loyalty points revenue related to performance obligations unsatisfied as of March 27, 2024 to be recognized within one year.

Gift Cards

The gift card liability included in other accrued expenses and current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets was as follows (in thousands):


	March 27, 2024		December 27, 2023
Gift card liability	$	4,497	$	4,877

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Revenue recognized from the redemption of gift cards that was included in other accrued expenses and current liabilities at the beginning of the year was as follows (in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Revenue recognized from gift card liability balance at the beginning of the year	$	362	$	486

Contract Costs

The Company does not currently incur costs to obtain or fulfill a contract that would be considered contract assets under Topic 606.

11. LEASES

Nature of Leases

The Company’s operations utilize property, facilities, equipment and vehicles leased from others. Additionally, the Company has various contracts with vendors that have been determined to contain an embedded lease in accordance with Topic 842.

As of March 27, 2024, the Company had two leases that it had entered into, but had not yet commenced. The Company does not have control of the property until lease commencement.

Building and Facility Leases

The majority of the Company’s building and facilities leases are classified as operating leases; however, the Company currently has one facility and 26 equipment leases that are classified as finance leases.

Restaurants are operated under lease arrangements that generally provide for a fixed base rent and, in some instances, contingent rent based on a percentage of gross operating profit or net revenues in excess of a defined amount. Additionally, a number of the Company’s leases have payments that increase at pre-determined dates based on the change in the consumer price index. For all leases, the Company also reimburses the landlord for non-lease components, or items that are not considered components of a contract, such as CAM, property tax and insurance costs. While the Company determined not to separate lease and non-lease components, these payments are based on actual costs, making them variable consideration and excluding them from the calculations of the ROU asset and lease liability.

The initial terms of land and restaurant building leases are generally 20 years, exclusive of options to renew. These leases typically have four 5-year renewal options, which have generally been excluded in the calculation of the ROU asset and lease liability, as they are not considered reasonably certain to be exercised, unless (1) the renewal had already occurred as of the time of adoption of Topic 842, or (2) there have been significant leasehold improvements that have a useful life that extend past the original lease term. Furthermore, there are no residual value guarantees and no restrictions imposed by the lease.

During the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, the Company reassessed the lease terms on eight restaurants due to certain triggering events, such as the addition of significant leasehold improvements with useful lives that extend past the current lease expiration, the decision to terminate a lease, or the decision to renew. As a result of the reassessment, an additional $5.9 million of ROU asset and lease liabilities for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, respectively, were recognized and will be amortized over the new lease term. During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, the Company reassessed the lease terms on 12 restaurants due to certain triggering events, such as the addition of significant leasehold improvements with useful lives that extend past the current lease expiration, the decision to terminate a lease, or the decision to renew. This reassessment resulted in an additional $10.1 million of ROU asset and lease liabilities for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, which were recognized and will be amortized over the new lease term. Additionally, as the Company adopted all practical expedients available under Topic 842, no reallocation between lease and non-lease components was necessary.

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The Company also subleases facilities to certain franchisees and other non-related parties which are also considered operating leases. Sublease income also includes contingent rental income based on net revenues. The vast majority of these leases have rights to extend terms via fixed rental increases. However, none of these leases have early termination rights, the right to purchase the premises or any residual value guarantees. The Company does not have any related party leases.

During the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, the Company did not record any non-cash impairment charges. During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, the Company recorded a less than $0.1 million non-cash impairment charge related to the carrying value of ROU assets of one restaurant in California. See Note 1, “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and ROU Assets” for additional information.

Equipment

Leases of equipment primarily consist of restaurant equipment, copiers and vehicles. These leases are fixed payments with no variable component. Additionally, no optional renewal periods have been included in the calculation of the ROU asset, there are no residual value guarantees and no restrictions imposed.

Significant Assumptions and Judgments

In applying the requirements of Topic 842, the Company made significant assumptions and judgments related to determination of whether a contract contains a lease and the discount rate used for the lease.

In determining if any of the Company’s contracts contain a lease, the Company made assumptions and judgments related to its ability to direct the use of any assets stated in the contract and the likelihood of renewing any short-term contracts for a period extending past twelve months.

The Company also made significant assumptions and judgments in determining an appropriate discount rate for property leases. These included using a consistent discount rate for a portfolio of leases entered into at varying dates, using the full 20-year term of the lease, excluding any options, and using the total minimum lease payments. The Company utilizes a third-party valuation firm in determining the discount rate, based on the above assumptions. For all other leases, the Company uses the discount rate implicit in the lease, or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate.

As the Company has adopted the practical expedient not to separate lease and non-lease components, no significant assumptions or judgments were necessary in allocating consideration between these components, for all classes of underlying assets.

The following table presents the Company’s total lease cost, disaggregated by underlying asset (in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024						March 29, 2023
	Property		Equipment				Property		Equipment
	Leases		Leases		Total		Leases		Leases		Total
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets	$	18	$	1	$	19	$	18	$	1	$	19
Interest on lease liabilities		11		4		15		10		1		11
Operating lease cost:
Fixed rent cost		7,028		103		7,131		6,832		202		7,034
Short-term lease cost		—		1		1		—		3		3
Variable lease cost		133		347		480		142		233		375
Sublease income		(1,779)		—		(1,779)		(1,247)		—		(1,247)
Total lease cost	$	5,411	$	456	$	5,867	$	5,755	$	440	$	6,195

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The following table presents the Company’s total lease cost on the condensed consolidated statements of income (in thousands):


	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Lease cost – Occupancy and other operating expenses	$	5,715	$	6,009
Lease cost – General & administrative		118		136
Lease cost – Depreciation and amortization		19		19
Lease cost – Interest expense		15		11
Lease cost – Closed-store reserve		—		20
Total lease cost	$	5,867	$	6,195

During the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023, the Company had the following cash and non-cash activities associated with its leases (dollars in thousands):


	March 27, 2024								March 29, 2023
	Property			Equipment					Property			Equipment
	Leases			Leases			Total		Leases			Leases			Total
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows used for operating leases	$	7,000		$	20		$	7,020	$	6,907		$	188		$	7,095
Financing cash flows used for finance leases	$	23		$	25		$	48	$	24		$	14		$	38

Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Operating lease ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating lease ROU assets	$	5,860		$	488		$	6,348	$	10,097		$	—		$	10,097
Finance lease ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Finance lease ROU assets	$	—		$	148		$	148	$	—		$	28		$	28
Derecognition of ROU assets due to terminations, impairment or modifications	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	(40)		$	—		$	(40)

Other Information
Weighted-average remaining years in lease term—finance leases		16.63			3.08					17.62			2.95
Weighted-average remaining years in lease term—operating leases		10.39			4.18					10.78			2.33
Weighted-average discount rate—finance leases		2.57	%		6.25	%				2.57	%		1.53	%
Weighted-average discount rate—operating leases		5.11	%		6.37	%				2.55	%		3.71	%

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Information regarding the Company’s minimum future lease obligations as of March 27, 2024 is as follows (in thousands):


	Finance Leases		Operating Leases
	Minimum		Minimum		Minimum
	Lease		Lease		Sublease
For the Years Ending	Payments		Payments		Income
December 25, 2024	$	260	$	21,848	$	4,406
December 31, 2025		343		28,435		5,518
December 30, 2026		310		26,390		5,034
December 29, 2027		300		25,005		4,858
December 27, 2028		233		22,794		4,484
Thereafter		1,376		125,417		27,838
Total	$	2,822	$	249,889	$	52,138
Less: imputed interest (2.57% - 6.37%)		(951)		(60,632)
Present value of lease obligations		1,871		189,257
Less: current maturities		(168)		(19,640)
Noncurrent portion	$	1,703	$	169,617

Short-Term Leases

The Company has multiple short-term leases, which have terms of less than 12 months, and thus were excluded from the recognition requirements of Topic 842. The Company has recognized these lease payments in its condensed consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease term and variable lease payments in the period in which the obligation for those payments was incurred.

Lessor

The Company is a lessor for certain property, facilities and equipment owned by the Company and leased to others, principally franchisees, under non-cancelable leases with initial terms ranging from three to 20 years. These lease agreements generally provide for a fixed base rent and, in some instances, contingent rent based on a percentage of gross operating profit or net revenues. All leases are considered operating leases.

For the leases in which the Company is the lessor, there are options to extend the lease. However, there are no terms and conditions to terminate the lease, no right to purchase premises and no residual value guarantees. Additionally, there are no related party leases.

The Company received $0.1 million of lease income from company-owned locations for each of the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023.

12. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

On August 8, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Shares”), outstanding on August 18, 2023, to the stockholders of record on that date. In connection with the distribution of the Rights, the Company entered into a Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of August 8, 2023, between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”) at a price of $53.75 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right, subject to adjustment. The Rights will expire at the close of business on August 7, 2024.

Under the Rights Agreement, the Rights are generally exercisable only in the event that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (such person or group being an “Acquiring Person”), other than certain exempt persons, acquires (or commences a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in) beneficial ownership of 12.5% or more of the outstanding Common Shares. In such case (with certain limited exceptions), each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring Person, whose Rights shall become void) will have the right to receive, upon exercise at the then

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current exercise price of the Right, Common Shares (or, if the Company’s Board of Directors so elects, cash, securities, or other property) having a value equal to two times (2x) the exercise price of the Right.

Right to Exchange

At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board may exchange the Rights at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).

Flip-over Event

If, at any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company engages in a consolidation or merger and, in connection there with all or part of the Common Shares are or will be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any other property; or (ii) 50% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets or earning power are sold, then each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

Redemption

At any time prior to the time any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board may redeem the Rights at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

Rights of Holders

Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements because they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “should,” “can,” “can have,” “likely,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. They appear in a number of places throughout this report and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which we operate. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected.

While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this report in the context of the factors that could cause outcomes to differ materially from our expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to:

●

global economic or other business conditions that may affect the desire or ability of our customers to purchase our products such as inflationary pressures, high unemployment levels, increases in gas prices, and declines in median income growth, consumer confidence and consumer discretionary spending;

●

our ability to open new restaurants in new and existing markets, including difficulty in finding sites and in negotiating acceptable leases;

●

our ability to compete successfully with other quick-service and fast casual restaurants;

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●

our vulnerability to changes in political and economic conditions and consumer preferences;

●

our ability to attract, develop, assimilate and retain employees;

●

our vulnerability to conditions in the greater Los Angeles area and to natural disasters given the geographic concentration and real estate intensive nature of our business;

●

the possibility that we may continue to incur significant impairment of certain of our assets, in particular in our new markets;

●

changes in food and supply costs, especially for chicken, labor, construction and utilities;

●

social media and negative publicity, whether or not valid, and our ability to respond to and effectively manage the accelerated impact of social media;

●

our ability to continue to expand our digital business, delivery orders and catering;

●

concerns about food safety and quality and about food-borne illness;

●

dependence on frequent and timely deliveries of food and supplies;

●

our ability to service our level of indebtedness;

●

uncertainty related to the success of our marketing programs, new menu items, advertising campaigns and restaurant designs and remodels;

●

adverse changes in the economic environment, including inflation and increased labor and supply costs, which may affect our franchisees, with adverse consequences to us;

●

the impacts of the uncertainty regarding pandemics, epidemics or infectious disease outbreaks (such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic) on our company, our employees, our customers, our partners, our industry and the economy as a whole, as well as our franchisees’ ability to operate their individual restaurants without disruption;

●

our limited control over our franchisees and potential deterioration of our relations with existing or potential franchisees;

●

potential exposure to unexpected costs and losses from our self-insurance programs;

●

potential obligations under long-term and non-cancelable leases, and our ability to renew leases at the end of their terms;

●

the possibility that Delaware law, our organizational documents, our shareholder rights agreement, and our existing and future debt agreements may impede or discourage a takeover;

●

the impact of shareholder activism on our expenses, business and stock price;

●

the impact of any failure of our information technology system or any breach of our network security;

●

the impact of any security breaches on our ability to protect our customers’ payment method data or personal information;

●

our ability to enforce and maintain our trademarks and protect our other proprietary intellectual property;

●

risks related to government regulation and litigation, including employment and labor laws; and

●

other risks set forth in our filings with the SEC from time to time, including under Item 1A, Risk Factors in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2023, which filings are available online at www.sec.gov.

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the ways that we expect. The forward-looking statements included in this report are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

Overview

El Pollo Loco is a differentiated and growing restaurant concept that specializes in fire-grilling citrus-marinated chicken and operates in the limited-service restaurant segment. We strive to offer food that integrates the culinary traditions of Mexico with the healthier lifestyle.” Our distinctive menu features our signature product--citrus-marinated fire-grilled chicken--and a variety of Mexican and LA-inspired entrees that we create from our chicken. We serve individual and family-sized chicken meals, a variety of Mexican and LA-inspired entrees, and sides, and, throughout the year, on a limited-time basis, additional proteins like beef and shrimp. Our entrees include favorites such as our Chicken Avocado Burrito, Pollo Fit entrees, chicken tostada salads, and Pollo Bowls. Our famous Creamy Cilantro dressings and salsas are

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prepared fresh daily, allowing our customers to create their favorite flavor profiles to enhance their culinary experience. We believe that our distinctive menu with better for you and more affordable alternatives appeals to consumers across a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds and drives our balanced composition of sales throughout the day (our “day-part mix”), including at lunch and dinner.

Market Trends and Uncertainties

On September 28, 2023, Governor Newsom signed AB 1228 into law, which repealed and replaced the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (“FAST Act”) on January 1, 2024. Pursuant to AB 1228, the minimum wage at fast food restaurants that are part of brands which have more than 60 establishments nationwide was increased to $20 an hour on April 1, 2024, and a Fast Food Council created by AB 1228 will have limited power to approve annual wage increases until 2029. Under the law, the Fast Food Council will also have the power to develop and propose minimum standards for fast food workers, including standards for working hours, working conditions, and health and safety. As a result of AB 1228, we expect our labor and regulatory compliance costs will increase during the remainder of fiscal 2024 and that our results of operations and profitability will be adversely affected if we are not able to implement other measures to counter these increased costs.

Additionally, we have experienced inflationary pressures affecting our operations in certain areas such as food cost, labor costs, construction costs and other restaurant operating costs. We have been able to substantially offset these inflationary and other cost pressures through various actions, such as increasing menu prices, managing menu mix, and productivity improvements. However, we expect these inflationary and other cost pressures to continue into the remainder of fiscal 2024 and we may not be able to offset cost increases in the future.

Seasonality

Seasonal factors and the timing of holidays cause our revenue to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Our revenue per restaurant is typically lower in the first and fourth quarters due to reduced January and December traffic and higher in the second and third quarters. As a result of seasonality, our quarterly and annual results of operations and our key performance indicators described below, such as company-operated restaurant revenue and comparable restaurant sales, may fluctuate.

Growth Strategies and Outlook

As of March 27, 2024, we had 495 locations in seven states. In fiscal 2023, we opened two new company-operated restaurants in Nevada, and our franchisees opened three new restaurants, one in California, one in Colorado and one in Utah. Additionally, during fiscal 2023, we completed the sale of 18 restaurants within California, Utah and Texas to existing franchisees. We plan to continue to expand our business, drive restaurant sales growth, and enhance our competitive positioning, by executing the following five key strategies:

●

Brand That Wins;

●

Hospitality Mindset;

●

Digital First;

●

Winning Unit Economics; and

●

New Unit Growth.

To increase comparable restaurant sales, we plan to increase customer frequency, attract new customers, and improve per-person spend. The success of these growth plans is not guaranteed.

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Highlights and Trends

Comparable Restaurant Sales

For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, system-wide comparable restaurant sales increased by 5.1% from the comparable period in the prior year. For company-operated restaurants, comparable restaurant sales for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 increased by 3.8%. For company-operated restaurants, the quarter’s change in comparable restaurant sales consisted of a 2.5% increase in average check size and a 1.2% increase in transactions. For franchised restaurants, comparable restaurant sales increased 5.9% for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, respectively. Refer to Comparable Restaurant Sales definition in “Key Performance Indicators” section below.

Restaurant Development

Our restaurant counts at the beginning and end of each of the last three fiscal years and the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, were as follows:


	Thirteen Weeks Ended	Fiscal Year Ended
	March 27, 2024	2023	2022	2021
Company-operated restaurant activity:
Beginning of period	172	188	189	196
Openings	—	2	4	2
Restaurant sale to franchisee	—	(18)	(3)	(8)
Closures	—	—	(2)	(1)
Restaurants at end of period	172	172	188	189
Franchised restaurant activity:
Beginning of period	323	302	291	283
Openings	—	3	9	2
Restaurant sale to franchisee	—	18	3	8
Closures	—	—	(1)	(2)
Restaurants at end of period	323	323	302	291
System-wide restaurant activity:
Beginning of period	495	490	480	479
Openings	—	5	13	4
Closures	—	—	(3)	(3)
Restaurants at end of period	495	495	490	480

Restaurant Remodeling

During the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, we completed three company-operated restaurant remodels and 11 franchise remodels. The cost of our restaurant remodels varies depending on the scope of the work required, but on average the investment is $0.3 million to $0.4 million per restaurant.

Loco Rewards

Our Loco Rewards loyalty program offers rewards that incentivize customers to visit our restaurants more often each month. Customers earn points for each dollar spent and points can be redeemed for multiple redemption options. If a customer does not earn or use points within a one-year period, their account is deactivated and all points expire. When a customer is part of the rewards program, the obligation to provide future discounts related to points earned is considered a separate performance obligation, to which a portion of the transaction price is allocated. The performance obligation related to loyalty points is deemed to have been satisfied, and the amount deferred in the balance sheet is recognized as revenue, when the points are transferred to a reward and redeemed, the reward or points have expired, or the likelihood of redemption is remote. A portion of the transaction price is allocated to loyalty points on a pro-rata basis, based on stand-alone selling price, as determined by menu pricing and loyalty point’s terms.

In addition, customers can earn additional points and free entrées for a variety of engagement activities. As points are available for redemption past the quarter earned, a portion of the revenue associated with the earned points will be deferred until redemption or expiration. As of both March 27, 2024 and December 27, 2023, the revenue allocated to

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loyalty points that had not been redeemed was $0.7 million, which is reflected in our accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets within other accrued expenses and current liabilities. We had over 3.8 million loyalty program members as of March 27, 2024.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect our reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under current circumstances in making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from other sources. We evaluate our estimates on an on-going basis. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Accounting policies are an integral part of our condensed consolidated financial statements. A thorough understanding of these accounting policies is essential when reviewing our reported results of operations and our financial position. Management believes that our critical accounting policies and estimates involve the most difficult management judgments, due to the sensitivity of the methods and assumptions used. For a summary of our critical accounting policies and a discussion of our use of estimates, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2023.

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies or uses of estimates since our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2023.

Key Financial Definitions

Revenue

Our revenue is derived from three primary sources: company-operated restaurant revenue, franchise revenue, which is comprised primarily of franchise royalties and, to a lesser extent, franchise fees and sublease rental income, and franchise advertising fee revenue. See Note 10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements above for further details regarding our revenue recognition policy.

Food and Paper Costs

Food and paper costs include the direct costs associated with food, beverage and packaging of our menu items. The components of food and paper costs are variable in nature, change with sales volume, are impacted by menu mix, and are subject to increases or decreases in commodity costs.

Labor and Related Expenses

Labor and related expenses include wages, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation expense, benefits, and bonuses paid to our restaurant management teams. Like other expense items, we expect labor costs to grow proportionately as our restaurant revenue grows. Factors that influence labor costs include minimum wage and payroll tax legislation, state labor laws (which, in California, may include AB 1228), overtime, wage inflation, the frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims, health care costs, and the performance of our restaurants.

Occupancy Costs and Other Operating Expenses

Occupancy costs include rent, common area maintenance (“CAM”), and real estate taxes. Other restaurant operating expenses include the costs of utilities, advertising, credit card processing fees, restaurant supplies, repairs and maintenance, and other restaurant operating costs.

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General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses are comprised of expenses associated with corporate and administrative functions that support the development and operations of our restaurants, including compensation and benefits, travel expenses, stock compensation costs, legal and professional fees, and other related corporate costs. Also included are pre-opening costs, and expenses above the restaurant level, including salaries for field management, such as area and regional managers, and franchise field operational support.

Franchise Expenses

Franchise expenses are primarily comprised of rent expenses incurred on properties leased by us and then sublet to franchisees, expenses incurred in support of franchisee information technology systems, and the franchisee’s portion of advertising expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization primarily consists of the depreciation of property and equipment, including leasehold improvements and equipment.

Loss on Disposal of Assets

Loss on disposal of assets includes the loss on disposal of assets related to retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements or equipment.

Impairment and Closed-Store Reserves

We review long-lived assets such as property, equipment, and intangibles on a unit-by-unit basis for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. We determine if there is impairment at the restaurant level by comparing undiscounted future cash flows from the related long-lived assets to their respective carrying values and record an impairment charge when appropriate. In determining future cash flows, significant estimates are made by us with respect to future operating results of each restaurant over its remaining lease term, including sales trends, labor rates, commodity costs and other operating cost assumptions. If assets are determined to be impaired, the impairment charge is measured by calculating the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value. This process of assessing fair values requires the use of estimates and assumptions, including our ability to sell or reuse the related assets and market conditions, which are subject to a high degree of judgment. If these assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for these assets and these charges could be material.

When we close a restaurant, we will evaluate the right of use (“ROU”) asset for impairment, based on anticipated sublease recoveries. The remaining value of the ROU asset is amortized on a straight-line basis, with the expense recognized in closed-store reserve expense, in addition to property tax and CAM charges for closed restaurants.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net, consists primarily of interest on our outstanding debt. Debt issuance costs are amortized at cost over the life of the related debt.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes consists of federal and state taxes on our income.

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Comparison of Results of Operations

Our operating results for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023 and expressed as percentages of total revenue, with the exception of cost of operations and company restaurant expenses, which are expressed as percentages of company-operated restaurant revenue, are compared in the tables below.


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 27, 2024			March 29, 2023			Increase / (Decrease)
	($,000)		(%)	($,000)		(%)	($,000)		(%)
Statements of Income Data
Company-operated restaurant revenue	$	97,153	83.6	$	97,873	85.5	$	(720)	(0.7)
Franchise revenue		11,348	9.8		9,672	8.4		1,676	17.3
Franchise advertising fee revenue		7,652	6.6		6,981	6.1		671	9.6
Total revenue		116,153	100.0		114,526	100.0		1,627	1.4
Cost of operations
Food and paper costs (1)		25,619	26.4		26,902	27.5		(1,283)	(4.8)
Labor and related expenses (1)		30,580	31.5		31,541	32.2		(961)	(3.0)
Occupancy and other operating expenses (1)		23,865	24.6		24,886	25.4		(1,021)	(4.1)
Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, lost profits, net (1)		—	—		(151)	(0.2)		151	N/A
Company restaurant expenses (1)		80,064	82.5		83,178	84.9		(3,114)	(3.7)
General and administrative expenses		11,925	10.3		11,199	9.8		726	6.5
Franchise expenses		10,602	9.1		9,032	7.9		1,570	17.4
Depreciation and amortization		3,851	3.3		3,637	3.2		214	5.9
Loss on disposal of assets		41	0.0		30	0.0		11	36.7
Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, property, equipment and expenses		(41)	(0.0)		(242)	(0.2)		201	N/A
Gain on disposition of restaurants		—	—		(136)	(0.1)		136	N/A
Impairment and closed-store reserves		32	0.0		77	0.1		(45)	(58.4)
Total expenses		106,474	91.7		106,775	93.2		(301)	(0.3)
Income from operations		9,679	8.3		7,751	6.8		1,928	24.9
Interest expense, net of interest income		1,564	1.3		1,004	0.9		560	55.8
Income tax receivable agreement expense (income)		—	—		(122)	(0.1)		122	(100.0)
Income before provision for income taxes		8,115	7.0		6,869	6.0		1,246	18.1
Provision for income taxes		2,203	1.9		1,951	1.7		252	12.9
Net income	$	5,912	5.1	$	4,918	4.3	$	994	20.2

(1)	Percentages for line items relating to cost of operations and company restaurant expenses are calculated with company-operated restaurant revenue as the denominator. All other percentages use total revenue.

Company-Operated Restaurant Revenue

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, company-operated restaurant revenue decreased $0.7 million, or 0.7%, from the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease in company-operated restaurant revenue was mainly due to a $5.0 million decrease in revenue primarily from the 18 company-operated restaurants sold by the Company to existing franchisees during the prior quarters and a $0.1 million decrease in revenue recognized for our loyalty points program. This company-operated restaurant revenue decrease was partially offset by $0.8 million of additional sales from restaurants opened during or after the first quarter of 2023 as well as an increase in company-operated comparable restaurant revenue of $3.5 million, or 3.8%. The company-operated comparable restaurant sales increase consisted of a 2.5% increase in average check size due to increases in menu prices and an approximately 1.2% increase in transactions.

Franchise Revenue

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, franchise revenue increased $1.7 million, or 17.3%, from the comparable period in the prior year. This increase was primarily due to a franchise comparable restaurant sales increase of 5.9%, three franchise-operated restaurant openings and 18 company-operated restaurants sold by the Company to existing franchisees in each case, during the prior quarters.

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Franchise Advertising Fee Revenue

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, franchise advertising fee revenue increased $0.7 million, or 9.6%, from the comparable period in the prior year. As advertising fee revenue is a percentage of franchisees’ revenue, the quarter-to-date period fluctuations were due to the increases and decreases noted in franchise revenue above.

Food and Paper Costs

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, food and paper costs decreased $1.3 million, or 4.8%. The decrease in food and paper costs for the quarter resulted primarily due to a $1.5 million reduction related to the sale of 18 company-operated locations to franchisees, partially offset by commodity inflation. For the quarter, food and paper costs as a percentage of company-operated restaurant revenue were 26.4%, down from 27.5% in the comparable period of the prior year. The percentage decrease for the quarter was primarily due to an increase in pricing, partially offset by commodity inflation.

Labor and Related Expenses

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, labor and related expenses decreased $1.0 million, or 3.0%, from the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease in labor and related expenses for the quarter was primarily due to a $2.0 reduction in labor related costs resulting from the 18 company-operated restaurants sold by the Company to existing franchisees during the prior quarters. The decrease in labor and related expenses for the quarter was partially offset by a $1.1 million increase primarily related to higher wage rates during fiscal 2024 and 2023 and other labor wage increases as a result of competitive pressure and legislated increases in the California minimum wage.

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, labor and related expenses as a percentage of company-operated restaurant revenue were 31.5%, down from 32.2% in the comparable period in the prior year. The percentage change for the quarter was driven by higher menu prices, partially offset by the cost increases highlighted above.

Occupancy and Other Operating Expenses

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, occupancy and other operating expenses decreased $1.0 million, or 4.1%, from the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to a $0.5 million decrease in occupancy costs, a $0.2 million decrease in utility costs and a $0.2 million decrease in repairs and maintenance costs primarily driven by the sale of 18 company-operated locations to existing franchisees, partially offset by the two new company restaurant openings and increases in other operating expenses.

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, occupancy and other operating expenses as a percentage of company-operated restaurant revenue were 24.6%, down from 25.4% in the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease resulted from the cost decreases highlighted above.

General and Administrative Expenses

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, general and administrative expenses increased $0.7 million, or 6.5%, from the comparable period in the prior year. The increase for the quarter was primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in restructuring costs related to certain positions in the organization and a $0.6 million increase in executive transition costs. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the quarter was offset by a $0.3 million decrease in legal fees.

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue were 10.3%, up from 9.8% in the comparable period of the prior year. The percentage increase for the quarterly period is primarily due to the cost increases noted above.

Gain on Disposition of Restaurants

During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, we completed the sale of one restaurant within California to an existing franchisee. We determined that this restaurant disposition represents multiple element arrangements, and as a result, the cash consideration received was allocated to the separate elements based on its relative standalone selling price. Cash proceeds included upfront consideration for the sale of the restaurant and franchise fees. The cash

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consideration per restaurant related to franchise fees is consistent with the amounts stated in the related franchise agreements, which are charged for separate standalone arrangements. We initially defer and subsequently recognize the franchise fees over the term of the franchise agreement. This sale resulted in cash proceeds of $0.2 million and a net gain on sale of restaurant of $0.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023. Since the date of their sale, this restaurant is now included in the total number of franchised El Pollo Loco restaurants.

Impairment and Closed-Store Reserves

During the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, we did not record any non-cash impairment charges. During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, we recorded non-cash impairment charges of less than $0.1 million, primarily related to the carrying value of the ROU assets of one restaurant in California. Given the inherent uncertainty in projecting results for newer restaurants in newer markets we are monitoring the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets of several restaurants on an ongoing basis. For these restaurants, if expected performance is not realized, an impairment charge may be recognized in future periods, and such charge could be material.

When a restaurant is closed, we will evaluate the ROU asset for impairment, based on anticipated sublease recoveries. The remaining value of the ROU asset is amortized on a straight-line basis, with the expense recognized in closed-store reserve expense. Additionally, any property tax and CAM payments relating to closed restaurants are included within closed-store expense. During both the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023, we recognized less than $0.1 million of closed-store reserve expense related to the amortization of ROU assets, property taxes and CAM payments for our closed locations.

Interest Expense, Net

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, interest expense, net, increased $0.6 million from the comparable period in the prior year. The increase in interest expense was primarily related to the higher outstanding balances on our 2022 Revolver (as defined below) as well as the higher interest rates in the fiscal 2024 periods versus the comparable periods in the prior year.

Income Tax Receivable Agreement

On July 30, 2014, we entered into the income tax receivable agreement (the “TRA”). The TRA calls for us to pay to our pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that we realize in our taxes as a result of utilizing our net operating losses (“NOLs”) and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, we did not record any income tax receivable agreement income or expense, and for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023 we recorded income tax receivable agreement income of $0.1 million.

Provision for Income Taxes

For the quarter ended March 27, 2024, we recorded an income tax provision of $2.2 million, reflecting an estimated effective tax rate of 27.1%. For the quarter ended March 29, 2023, we recorded an income tax provision of $2.0 million, reflecting an estimated effective tax rate of approximately 28.4%.

The difference between the 21.0% statutory rate and our effective tax rate of 27.1% for the quarter ended March 27, 2024 is primarily a result of state taxes, a non-deductible executive compensation, partially offset by a Work Opportunity Tax Credit benefit.

Key Performance Indicators

To evaluate the performance of our business, we utilize a variety of financial and performance measures. These key measures include company-operated restaurant revenue, system-wide sales, comparable restaurant sales, restaurant contribution, restaurant contribution margin, new restaurant openings, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA.

System-Wide Sales

System-wide sales are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. System-wide sales are the sum of company-operated restaurant revenue and sales from franchised restaurants. Our total revenue in our condensed

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consolidated statements of income is limited to company-operated restaurant revenue and franchise revenue from our franchisees. Accordingly, system-wide sales should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our results as reported under GAAP. Management believes that system-wide sales are an important figure for investors, because they are widely used in the restaurant industry, including by our management, to evaluate brand scale and market penetration.

The following table reconciles system-wide sales to company-operated restaurant revenue and total revenue:


	Thirteen Weeks
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Company-operated restaurant revenue	$	97,153	$	97,873
Franchise revenue		11,348		9,672
Franchise advertising fee revenue		7,652		6,981
Total Revenue		116,153		114,526
Franchise revenue		(11,348)		(9,672)
Franchise advertising fee revenue		(7,652)		(6,981)
Sales from franchised restaurants		170,737		155,614
System-wide sales	$	267,890	$	253,487

Company-Operated Restaurant Revenue

Company-operated restaurant revenue consists of sales of food and beverages in company-operated restaurants net of promotional allowances, employee meals, and other discounts. Company-operated restaurant revenue in any period is directly influenced by the number of operating weeks in such period, the number of open restaurants, and comparable restaurant sales.

Comparable Restaurant Sales

Comparable restaurant sales reflect year-over-year sales changes for comparable company-operated, franchised, and system-wide restaurants. A restaurant enters our comparable restaurant base the first full week after it has operated for fifteen months. Comparable restaurant sales exclude restaurants closed during the applicable period. At March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023, there were 478 and 468 comparable restaurants, 168 and 181 company-operated restaurants and 310 and 287 franchised restaurants, respectively. Comparable restaurant sales indicate the performance of existing restaurants, since new restaurants are excluded. Comparable restaurant sales growth can be generated by an increase in the number of meals sold and/or by increases in the average check amount, resulting from a shift in menu mix and/or higher prices resulting from new products or price increases. Because other companies may calculate this measure differently than we do, comparable restaurant sales as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Management believes that comparable restaurant sales is a valuable metric for investors to evaluate the performance of our store base, excluding the impact of new stores and closed stores.

Restaurant Contribution and Restaurant Contribution Margin

Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. Restaurant contribution is defined as company-operated restaurant revenue less company restaurant expenses which includes food and paper cost, labor and related expenses and occupancy and other operating expenses, where applicable. Restaurant contribution therefore excludes franchise revenue, franchise advertising fee revenue and franchise expenses as well as certain other costs, such as general and administrative expenses, franchise expenses, depreciation and amortization, asset impairment and closed-store reserve, loss on disposal of assets and other costs that are considered corporate-level expenses and are not considered normal operating costs of our restaurants. Accordingly, restaurant contribution is not indicative of overall Company results and does not accrue directly to the benefit of stockholders because of the exclusion of certain corporate-level expenses. Restaurant contribution margin is defined as restaurant contribution as a percentage of net company-operated restaurant revenue.

Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are supplemental measures of operating performance of our restaurants, and our calculations thereof may not be comparable to those reported by other companies. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or superior to, or as substitutes for the analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Management uses restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin as key metrics to evaluate the profitability of incremental sales

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at our restaurants, to evaluate our restaurant performance across periods, and to evaluate our restaurant financial performance compared with our competitors. Management believes that restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are important tools for investors, because they are widely-used metrics within the restaurant industry to evaluate restaurant-level productivity, efficiency, and performance. Management further believes restaurant level operating is useful to investors to highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures.

A reconciliation of restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin to company-operated restaurant revenue is provided below:


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	March 27, 2024			March 29, 2023
Restaurant contribution:
Income from operations	$	9,679		$	7,751
Add (less):
General and administrative expenses		11,925			11,199
Franchise expenses		10,602			9,032
Depreciation and amortization		3,851			3,637
Loss on disposal of assets		41			30
Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, property, equipment and expenses		(41)			(242)
Franchise revenue		(11,348)			(9,672)
Franchise advertising fee revenue		(7,652)			(6,981)
Impairment and closed-store reserves		32			77
Gain on disposition of restaurants		—			(136)
Restaurant contribution	$	17,089		$	14,695

Company-operated restaurant revenue:
Total revenue	$	116,153		$	114,526
Less:
Franchise revenue		(11,348)			(9,672)
Franchise advertising fee revenue		(7,652)			(6,981)
Company-operated restaurant revenue	$	97,153		$	97,873

Restaurant contribution margin (%)		17.6	%		15.0	%

New Restaurant Openings

The number of restaurant openings reflects the number of new restaurants opened by us and our franchisees during a particular reporting period. Before a new restaurant opens, we and our franchisees incur pre-opening costs, as described below. New restaurants often open with an initial start-up period of higher-than-normal sales volumes, which subsequently decrease to stabilized levels. New restaurants typically experience normal inefficiencies in the form of higher food and paper, labor, and other direct operating expenses and, as a result, restaurant contribution margins are generally lower during the start-up period of operation. The average start-up period after which our new restaurants’ revenue and expenses normalize is approximately fourteen weeks. When we enter new markets, we may be exposed to start-up times and restaurant contribution margins that are longer and lower than reflected in our average historical experience.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and other items that we do not consider representative of on-going operating performance, as identified in the reconciliation table below.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as presented in this report are supplemental measures of our performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income, or

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any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP, or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. In addition, in evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. Our presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are (i) they do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments, (ii) they do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs, (iii) they do not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt, (iv) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements, (v) they do not adjust for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in our statements of cash flows, (vi) they do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our on-going operations, and (vii) other companies in our industry may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from such non-GAAP financial measures. We further compensate for the limitations in our use of non-GAAP financial measures by presenting comparable GAAP measures more prominently.

We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period by isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies. These potential differences may be caused by variations in capital structures (affecting interest expense), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or NOLs) and the age and book depreciation of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense). We also present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because (i) we believe that these measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, (ii) we believe that investors will find these measures useful in assessing our ability to service or incur indebtedness, and (iii) we use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA internally for a number of benchmarks, including to compare our performance to that of our competitors.

The following table sets forth reconciliations of our net income to our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
(Amounts in thousands)	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Net income	$	5,912	$	4,918
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Provision for income taxes		2,203		1,951
Interest expense, net of interest income		1,564		1,004
Depreciation and amortization		3,851		3,637
EBITDA	$	13,530	$	11,510
Stock-based compensation expense (a)		920		771
Loss on disposal of assets (b)		41		30
Impairment and closed-store reserves (c)		32		77
Gain on disposition of restaurants (d)		—		(136)
Income tax receivable agreement expense (income) (e)		—		(122)
Special dividend (f)		—		129
Special legal expenses (g)		—		298
Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds (h)		(41)		(394)
Executive transition costs (i)		643
Restructuring charges (j)		551		—
Pre-opening costs (k)		23		5
Adjusted EBITDA	$	15,699	$	12,168

(a)	Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation.

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(b)	Loss on disposal of assets includes the loss on disposal of assets related to retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements or equipment.

(c)

Includes costs related to impairment of property and equipment and ROU assets and closing restaurants. During the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, we did not record any non-cash impairment charges. During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, we recorded non-cash impairment charges of less than $0.1 million, primarily related to the carrying value of the ROU assets of one restaurant in California.

During both the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and March 29, 2023, we recognized less than $0.1 million of closed-store reserve expense related to the amortization of ROU assets, property taxes and CAM payments for our closed locations.

(d)

During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, we completed the sale of one restaurant within California to an existing franchisee. This sale resulted in cash proceeds of $0.2 million during the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023 and a net gain on sale of restaurant of $0.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023.

(e)

On July 30, 2014, we entered into the TRA. This agreement calls for us to pay to our pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that we realize in our taxes as a result of utilizing our NOLs and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, we did not record any income tax receivable agreement income or expense. For the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, income tax receivable agreement income consisted of the amortization of interest expense and changes in estimates for actual tax returns filed, related to our total expected TRA payments.

(f)

During the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, we encountered costs related to a special dividend declaration. On October 11, 2022, the Board of Directors declared a special dividend of $1.50 per share on the common stock of the Company. The special dividend was paid on November 9, 2022, to stockholders of record, including holders of restricted stock, at the close of business on October 24, 2022.

(g)	Consists of legal costs related to the share distribution by Trimaran Group of substantially all of the Company’s common stock held by Trimaran Group to its investors, members and limited partners, which occurred on March 28, 2023.

(h)

During fiscal 2022, one of our restaurants incurred damage resulting from a fire. In fiscal 2023, we incurred costs directly related to the fire of less than $0.1 million. We recognized gains of $0.2 million, related to the reimbursement of property and equipment and expenses incurred and $0.2 million related to the reimbursement of lost profits. The gain on recovery of insurance proceeds and reimbursement of lost profits, net of the related costs is included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income, for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023, as a reduction of company restaurant expenses. We received from the insurance company cash of $0.4 million, net of the insurance deductible, during fiscal 2023.

(i)	Includes costs associated with the transition of our former CEO, such as severance, executive recruiting costs and stock-based compensation costs.

(j)	On March 8, 2024, the Company made the decision to eliminate and restructure certain positions in the organization, which resulted in one-time costs of approximately $0.5 million.

(k)

Pre-opening costs are a component of general and administrative expenses, and consist of costs directly associated with the opening of new restaurants and incurred prior to opening, including management labor costs, staff labor costs during training, food and supplies used during training, marketing costs, and other related pre-opening costs. These are generally incurred over the three to five months prior to opening. Pre-opening costs also include occupancy costs incurred between the date of possession and the opening date for a restaurant.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources have been cash provided from operations, cash and cash equivalents, and our 2022 Revolver (defined below). Our primary requirements for liquidity and capital are new restaurants, existing restaurant capital investments (remodels and maintenance), legal defense costs, lease obligations, interest payments on our debt, working capital and general corporate needs. Our working capital requirements are not significant, since our customers pay for their purchases in cash or by payment card (credit or debit) at the time of sale. Thus, we are able to sell many of our inventory items before we have to pay our suppliers. Our restaurants do not require significant inventories or receivables. We believe that these sources of liquidity and capital are sufficient to finance our continued operations, including planned capital expenditures, for at least the next 12 months from the issuance of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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The following table presents summary cash flow information for the periods indicated (in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
(Amounts in thousands)	March 27, 2024		March 29, 2023
Net cash (used in) provided by
Operating activities	$	11,163	$	3,819
Investing activities		(4,121)		(5,680)
Financing activities		(5,209)		(13,843)
Net (decrease) increase in cash	$	1,833	$	(15,704)

Operating Activities

For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, net cash from operating activities increased by approximately $7.3 million from the comparable period of the prior year. This change was due to favorable working capital fluctuations and higher profitability compared to the same period in the prior year.

Investing Activities

For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, net cash used in investing activities decreased by $1.6 million from the comparable period of the prior year. This change was due to a decrease in purchase of property and equipment mostly related to restaurant remodeling during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 when compared to the prior quarter.

Financing Activities

For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, net cash used in financing activities decreased by $8.6 million from the comparable period of the prior year. The change was due primarily to a decrease of $4.7 million in repurchases of common stock coupled with $4.0 million decrease in net pay downs on the 2022 Revolver during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 compared to the repurchases of common stock and net pay-downs during the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023.

Debt and Other Obligations

The Company, as a guarantor, is a party to a credit agreement (the “2022 Credit Agreement”) among EPL, as borrower, Intermediate, as a guarantor, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender, and letter of credit issuer, the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto, which provides for a $150.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “2022 Revolver”). The 2022 Revolver, which is available pursuant to the 2022 Credit Agreement, includes a sub limit of $15.0 million for letters of credit and a sub limit of $15.0 million for swingline loans. The 2022 Revolver and 2022 Credit Agreement will mature on July 27, 2027. The obligations under the 2022 Credit Agreement and related loan documents are guaranteed by Holdings and Intermediate. The obligations of Holdings, EPL and Intermediate under the 2022 Credit Agreement and related loan documents are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of their respective assets.

The special dividend announced by the Company’s Board of Directors on October 11, 2022 was permitted under the terms of 2022 Revolver pursuant to both subclause (iii)(d) and (iii)(e) of the following sentence. Under the 2022 Revolver, Holdings is restricted from making certain payments such as cash dividends, except that it may, inter alia, (i) pay up to $1.0 million per year to repurchase or redeem qualified equity interests of Holdings held by our past or present officers, directors, or employees (or their estates) upon death, disability, or termination of employment, (ii) pay under its TRA, and (iii) so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing, (a) make non-cash repurchases of equity interests in connection with the exercise of stock options by directors, officers and management, provided that those equity interests represent a portion of the consideration of the exercise price of those stock options, (b) pay up to $0.5 million in any 12 month consecutive period to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire equity interests of any subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary from any holder of equity interest in such subsidiary, (c) pay up to $2.5 million per year pursuant to stock option plans, employment agreements, or incentive plans, (d) make up to $5.0 million in other restricted payments per year, and (e) make other restricted payments, subject to its compliance, on a pro forma basis, with (x) a lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio not to exceed 4.25 times and (y) the financial covenants applicable to the 2022 Revolver.

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Borrowings under the 2022 Credit Agreement (other than any swingline loans) bear interest, at the borrower’s option, at rates based upon either the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) or a base rate, plus, for each rate, a margin determined in accordance with a lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio-based pricing grid. The base rate is calculated as the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the published Bank of America prime rate, or (c) Term SOFR with a term of one-month SOFR plus 1.00%. For Term SOFR loans, the margin is in the range of 1.25% to 2.25%, and for base rate loans the margin is in a range of 0.25% to 1.25%. Borrowings under the 2022 Revolver may be repaid and reborrowed. The interest rate range under the 2022 Revolver was 6.92% to 6.96% for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024 and 5.69% to 6.30% for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2023.

The 2022 Credit Agreement contains certain customary financial covenants, subject to certain exceptions. We were in compliance with the financial covenants as of March 27, 2024.

At March 27, 2024, we had $80.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the 2022 Revolver and one letter of credit in the amount of $9.8 million outstanding, and as a result, we had $60.2 million in borrowing availability.

During the year ended December 28, 2022, we refinanced and terminated our credit agreement (the “2018 Credit Agreement”) among EPL, as borrower, the Company and Intermediate, as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender, and letter of credit issuer, the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto, which provided for a $150.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “2018 Revolver”) and entered into the 2022 Credit Agreement. See Note 4, “Long-term debt” for additional information.

Material Cash Requirements

Our material cash requirements as of March 27, 2024 have not changed materially since those disclosed under “Material Cash Requirements” in Part II, Item 7 of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2023. Our material cash requirements relate mostly to future (i) debt payments, including expected interest expense, calculated based on current interest rates, (ii) restaurant operating lease payments, (iii) purchasing commitments for chicken, (iv) restaurant finance lease payments, and (v) capital expenditures.

Share Repurchase Program

On November 2, 2023, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program (“Share Repurchase Program”) under which we are authorized to repurchase up to $20,000,000 of shares of our common stock. Under the Share Repurchase Program, we are permitted to repurchase our common stock from time to time, in amounts and at prices that we deemed appropriate, subject to market conditions and other considerations. Pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program, we are authorized to effect repurchases using open market purchases, including pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and/or through privately negotiated transactions. The repurchase program does not obligate us to acquire any particular number of shares. The repurchase program will terminate on March 31, 2025.

Further, on December 4, 2023, we repurchased 1.5 million shares for a total purchase price of $12.6 million under the Stock Repurchase Agreement with FS Equity Partners V, L.P. and FS Affiliates V, L.P. Following completion of this repurchase, approximately $7.4 million of our common stock remained available for repurchase under the share repurchase program at December 27, 2023.

For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, we repurchased 136,400 shares of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program, using open market purchases, for total consideration of approximately $1.2 million. Following completion of these repurchases, approximately $6.2 million of our common stock remained available for repurchase under the Share Repurchase Program at March 27, 2024.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Interest Rate Risk

On July 27, 2022, we refinanced the 2018 Revolver and entered into the 2022 Credit Agreement, which provides for a $150 million five-year senior secured revolving facility. In connection with the refinancing, the 2018 Credit Agreement was terminated. We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our debt, which bears interest, at SOFR

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plus a margin between 1.25% and 2.25%. As of March 27, 2024, we had outstanding borrowings of $80.0 million under our 2022 Revolver, $9.8 million of letters of credit in support of our insurance programs, and the applicable margin on outstanding borrowings under 2022 Revolver was 1.5%. A 1.0% increase in the effective interest rate applied to our 2022 Revolver borrowings would result in a pre-tax interest expense increase of $0.8 million on an annualized basis.

During the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, we paid down $4.0 million on our 2022 Revolver and the outstanding balance as of March 27, 2024 was $80.0 million. No amounts were borrowed on the 2022 Revolver during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024. Borrowings under the 2022 Credit Agreement (other than any swingline loans) bear interest, at the borrowers’ option, at rates based upon either SOFR or a base rate, plus, for each rate, a margin determined in accordance with a lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio-based pricing grid. If future rates based upon SOFR are higher than SOFR rates as currently determined, we may experience potential increases in interest rates on our variable rate debt, which could adversely impact our interest expense, results of operations and cash flows.

Inflation

Inflation has an impact on food, paper, construction, utility, labor and benefits, general and administrative, and other costs, all of which can materially impact our operations. In general, we have been able to substantially offset cost increases resulting from inflation by increasing menu prices, managing menu mix, improving productivity, or making other adjustments. We may not be able to offset cost increases in the future. In addition, we have a substantial number of hourly employees who are paid wage rates at or based on the applicable federal, state, or local minimum wage, and increases in the minimum wage will increase our labor costs.

Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to market price fluctuation in food product prices. Given the historical volatility of certain of our food product prices, including chicken, other proteins, grains, produce, dairy products, and cooking oil, these fluctuations can materially impact our food and beverage costs. While our purchasing commitments partially mitigate the risk of such fluctuations, there is no assurance that supply and demand factors such as disease or inclement weather will not cause the prices of the commodities used in our restaurant operations to fluctuate. In periods when the prices of commodities drop, we may pay higher prices under our purchasing commitments. In rapidly fluctuating commodities markets, it may prove difficult for us to adjust our menu prices in accordance with input price fluctuations. Therefore, to the extent that we do not pass along cost increases to our customers, our results of operations may be adversely affected. At this time, we do not use financial instruments to hedge our commodity risk.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our disclosure controls and procedures are based on assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Because of their inherent limitations, we cannot guarantee that our disclosure controls and procedures will succeed in achieving their stated objectives in all cases, that they will be complied with in all cases, or that they will prevent or detect all misstatements.

Our management has evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at the reasonable assurance level, as of March 27, 2024.

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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended March 27, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

We are involved in various claims such as wage and hour and other legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business, but neither we nor our subsidiaries are party to any material legal proceedings. See Note 7, “Commitments and Contingencies—Legal Matters” in the “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 8, 2024.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Further, on December 4, 2023, we repurchased 1.5 million shares for a total purchase price of $12.6 million under the Stock Repurchase Agreement with FS Equity Partners V, L.P. and FS Affiliates V, L.P. Following completion of this repurchase, approximately $7.4 million of its common stock remained available for repurchase under the share repurchase program at December 27, 2023.

For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2024, the Company repurchased 136,400 shares of common stock under the share repurchase program, using open market purchases, for total consideration of approximately $1.2 million. Following completion of these repurchases, approximately $6.2 million of the Company’s common stock remained available for repurchase under the share repurchase program at March 27, 2024.

The following table summarizes the Company’s purchases of common stock in the quarterly period ended March 27, 2024, which all occurred pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program (in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts):



	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid Per Share	Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
December 28, 2023 to January 24, 2024	—	$	—	—	$	7,400,000
January 25, 2024 to February 21, 2024	43,700	$	9.11	43,700	$	7,001,945
February 22, 2024 to March 27, 2024	92,700	$	8.90	92,700	$	6,176,597
Total	136,400			136,400

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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

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Item 6. Exhibits.

Exhibit Index

Number	Description	Filed Herewith	Form	Period Ended	Exhibit	Filing Date	SEC File Number

3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.		10-Q	6/25/2014	3.1	9/5/2014	001-36556

3.2	Certificate of Designations of Series A Preferred Stock of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 9, 2023		8-K	N/A	3.1	8/9/2023	001-36556

3.3	Amended and Restated By-Laws of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.		8-K	N/A	3.1	2/2/2024	001-36556

4.1	Rights Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2023, between El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent		8-K	N/A	4.1	8/9/2023	001-36556

4.2	Employment Agreement, dated February 8, 2024, between El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc and Elizabeth Williams		8-K	N/A	10.1	2/13/2024	001-36556

31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer under section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002	X

31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer under section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002	X

32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under 18 U.S.C. section 1350, adopted by section 906 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002	*

101.INS	Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document	X

101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document	X

101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document	X

101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document	X

101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document	X

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101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document	X

104	Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL Document	X

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K (17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(32)(ii)), this certification is deemed furnished, not filed, for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act, nor is it otherwise subject to liability under that section. It will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except if the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
		(Registrant)

Date: May 3, 2024		/s/ Elizabeth Williams
		Elizabeth Williams
		Chief Executive Officer
		(duly authorized officer)
Date: May 3, 2024		/s/ Ira Fils
		Ira Fils
		Chief Financial Officer
		(principal financial officer)

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Elizabeth Williams, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a–15(e) and 15d–15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a–15(f) and 15d–15(f)) that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 3, 2024

/s/ Elizabeth Williams

Elizabeth Williams

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Ira Fils, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.;

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 3, 2024

/s/ Ira Fils

Ira Fils

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION

Under 18 U.S.C. section 1350, adopted by section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with the attached periodic report, the undersigned each certify that (i) the periodic report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) the information contained in the periodic report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the issuer.

Date: May 3, 2024

/s/ Elizabeth Williams

Elizabeth Williams

Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Ira Fils

Ira Fils

Chief Financial Officer