No, El Pollo Loco is not owned by Denny's. While they are independent companies today, there was a historical period when both brands shared a common corporate parent.
Understanding Their Historical Relationship
At one point in time, both El Pollo Loco and Denny's were part of the same corporate portfolio under a parent company known as Advantica. Advantica was a holding company that owned and operated several distinct restaurant brands. This meant that while El Pollo Loco and Denny's were sister companies under Advantica's umbrella, neither brand owned the other directly.
Advantica's portfolio extended beyond just these two popular chains, also including other restaurant brands such as Carrows and Coco's. During this period, Advantica oversaw a significant presence in the family dining sector, with Denny's alone boasting an extensive network of over 1,650 locations across 49 U.S. states, two U.S. territories, and two foreign countries, highlighting the scale of Advantica's operations.
Independent Operations Today
Today, both El Pollo Loco and Denny's operate as independent, publicly traded companies. They each manage their distinct restaurant chains, menus, and business strategies separately.
To illustrate the historical relationship:
| Former Parent Company | Restaurant Brands (Historical) |
|---|---|
| Advantica | Denny's |
| Carrows | |
| Coco's | |
| El Pollo Loco |
