Pollo Campero Targets Nebraska for Growth

Pollo Campero, the Central American chicken franchise with 350 locations worldwide, is now looking to Nebraska for franchise expansion in the United States. In 2023, the company opened 11 new restaurants and saw double-digit revenue growth — and they aren’t slowing down. The franchise has plans to open another 25-plus restaurants in 2024 and the system has already surpassed the major milestone of 100 units in the U.S.

As Pollo Campero strategizes for its continued growth and development, the franchisor sees Nebraska as the perfect next state to target, due to factors such as economic growth and population increases.

“Nebraska has seen growth in the finance and insurance industry and has drastically outperformed the national sector over the past couple of years,” said Vice President of Franchise Development Blas Escarcega. “We expect the state to see strong growth over the next couple of years. We also see an increase in population to help meet the state’s workforce needs.”

While there are no units currently within the state, Pollo Campero is targeting the Omaha, Gretna and Lincoln areas for their stability, growth potential and strategic importance. While there are no new locations in Nebraska planned for next year, the brand projects it will roll out one new location by 2027, followed by two more by 2029.

One of the appealing aspects of Nebraska for Pollo Campero’s expansion is the stable and affordable real estate market. This factor plays a crucial role in the brand’s decision-making process, ensuring that new locations can be established with sustainable costs.

As Pollo Campero works to identify its first franchise partner in Nebraska, Escarcega and the corporate team will visit the market to meet with interested entrepreneurs and discuss how the brand will best fit into specific communities.

In addition to Nebraska, Pollo Campero is targeting expansion — both through corporate growth and franchise partnerships — in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Northern Florida, Utah, South Texas and Colorado.