Pollo Campero Targets Minnesota for Franchise Development

Pollo Campero , the quickly growing Central American chicken franchise, is now looking to expand in Minnesota. There is already one restaurant open in St. Paul, and another is set to open in the third quarter. With the capacity to open three new restaurants in the next three years, and five in the next five years, the team is working to fully saturate the market — reaching 10 units open — within the next decade.

“The chicken segment continues to soar in the U.S., and Pollo Campero is leveraging its flavorful differentiators to fill out key markets across the country,” said Blas Escarcega , vice president of franchise development. “One of the markets we have identified for this growth is Minnesota. With one successful restaurant already open and another in the works, we’re already laying the groundwork for a strong Pollo Campero presence across the state and are excited to add eight more units over the next few years.”

In addition to an existing brand presence, Minnesota offers a favorable marketplace for the business and varied sites for potential development. With multiple major companies present in the state, including 3M, Target, Best Buy and General Mills, Minnesota is a hot spot for business and is a prime location for continued population growth.

Minnesota has also seen an influx of Central Americans in the past decade, meaning Pollo Campero franchise owners will be opening up to a population that is already familiar with and loyal to the brand. This, combined with the potential to draw in new guests, will position owners well to scale healthily.

Pollo Campero offers flavorful chicken meals made with a family recipe that has been perfected over decades. For many Central Americans, the flavors, and even the Campero meals themselves, are familiar and beloved. These differentiators also allow franchise owners to stand out in their communities, offering a go-to favorite (chicken) with a refreshing twist that just isn’t found in other American restaurants.

Within Minnesota, Pollo Campero is specifically targeting Bloomington, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Brooklyn Center, Rogers, Monticello, Forest Lake and Elk River for new openings because of the markets’ strong real estate availability.

“Flexibility in the real estate process can be very helpful for franchisees during the development process,” explained Escarcega. “Because there are many sites available across Minnesota, new Pollo Campero owners will have an opportunity to choose the absolute best location for their new restaurant.”

With the potential to open five restaurants by 2029, the Pollo Campero team is consistently visiting Minnesota, supporting existing owners and making themselves available to discuss the opportunity with prospective new owners in their own domain.