Brett Patterson

Portillo's CEO Brett Patterson outlines a strategy to change its approach to growth and to turn around negative sales trends outside Chicagoland.

Portillo's plans to close a mid-to-high single-digit number of underperforming restaurants and build smaller units going forward.

The July 31 reduction was meant to simplify its corporate structure to allow for better focus, nimbler operations and improved restaurant-level support.

Portillo's cuts corporate jobs to simplify organization and lower costs

Five months into the job as CEO at Portillo’s, Brett Patterson on Wednesday outlined some of the shifts in strategy that he believes will right the ship for the fast-casual brand.

Kevin Kalicak, who has spent nearly 30 years at Darden, will join the fast casual chain on Sept.

Portillo’s, the fast-casual restaurant concept known for serving Chicago-style favorites for more than 60 years, today announced the appointment of Kevin Kalicak as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, effective September 7, 2026.

The 100-unit Chicago-based chain has hired former Guzman Y Gomez leader Christopher Hansen to oversee culinary innovation and menu evolution during its current national expansion.

On the holiday that celebrates the food that made it famous, Portillo’s announced it will open a new restaurant location in the heart of Wrigleyville, further doubling down on its commitment to serving its hometown.

The nontraditional location signals ongoing investment in Texas, where Portillo’s had a disappointing 2025.

New CEO Brett Patterson is focusing on balancing rapid market expansion with maintaining the high operational standards of the Chicago-born brand.

First Watch sees sales growth through menu redesigns and digital marketing, while Portillo’s leverages value deals to stabilize traffic in the latest quarter.

Portillo’s saw a slight transaction increase in the first quarter, though a decrease in average check size resulted in a marginal decline in same-store sales.

Michelle Hook has stepped down as Chief Financial Officer of Portillo’s after a four-year tenure that included the restaurant chain’s 2021 initial public offering.

Technomic data shows sales growth in the chicken category slowed to 5.3% in 2025 as the market faces increasing saturation and cooling performance from major players.

The 115-unit bar and grill chain has elevated Chief Operating Officer Joel Chick to the chief executive role following the departure of former CEO Brett Patterson.