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Portillo's Inc. (PTLO) is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in iconic Chicago street food. The company operates 94 restaurants across 10 states, offering a diverse menu that includes Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, burgers, salads, and desserts. Portillo's combines fast-casual and quick-service elements to deliver high-quality food through dine-in, drive-thru, delivery, and catering services.
- Chicago-Style Hot Dogs and Sausages - Offers classic Chicago-style hot dogs and sausages, a signature item that reflects the company's roots in Chicago street food.
- Italian Beef Sandwiches - Serves Italian beef sandwiches, a staple of the menu and a key contributor to its popularity.
- Char-Broiled Burgers - Features a selection of char-broiled burgers made with fresh ingredients.
- Fresh Chopped Salads - Provides a variety of fresh chopped salads catering to health-conscious customers.
- Sides and Desserts - Includes crinkle-cut fries, homemade chocolate cake, and the signature chocolate cake shake, enhancing the dining experience with unique and indulgent options.
- Catering Services - Offers catering for events, leveraging its diverse menu to serve large groups.
- Non-Traditional Locations - Operates a food truck and a ghost kitchen to expand its reach and serve customers in non-traditional settings.
| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Osanloo ExecutiveBoard | President, CEO, and Director | None | Michael Osanloo has been CEO since 2018, previously led P.F. Chang's, and held senior roles at Kraft Heinz and Caesar's Entertainment. Holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. | View Report → |
Jill Waite Executive | Chief People Officer | None | Jill Waite joined PTLO in 2019, focusing on culture, talent pipeline, and employee engagement. Holds a degree in Management from the University of Florida. | |
Michelle Hook Executive | Chief Financial Officer | None | Michelle Hook joined PTLO in 2020 after 17 years at Domino's, where she led global FP&A and investor relations. She is a CPA with an MBA from the University of Michigan. | |
Tony Darden Executive | Chief Operating Officer | None | Tony Darden joined PTLO in 2024, previously COO at Jack in the Box and held leadership roles at Panera Bread and Taco Bueno. Brings 30+ years of operational expertise. | |
Ann Bordelon Board | Director | Executive Vice Chancellor at University of Arkansas; Board Member at CRMT | Ann Bordelon joined PTLO's board in 2020, with 24 years of finance experience. She also serves on the board of America's Car-Mart and oversees finance at the University of Arkansas. | |
Jack R. Hartung Board | Director | Board Member at The Honest Company; Board Member at Zocdoc | Jack Hartung joined PTLO's board in 2025 after 22 years as CFO at Chipotle, where he oversaw its IPO and significant growth. Holds an MBA from Illinois State University. | |
Joshua A. Lutzker Board | Director | Managing Director at Berkshire Partners; Board Member at Boston Symphony | Joshua Lutzker has been on PTLO's board since 2014. He co-leads the Consumer and Retail practice at Berkshire Partners and has extensive experience in brand growth. | |
Mike Miles Board | Chairman of the Board | Board Member at Western Union; Advisory Director at Berkshire Partners | Mike Miles has been Chairman since 2014, previously President of Staples and COO of Pizza Hut. He also serves on Western Union's board and advises Berkshire Partners. | |
Noah Glass Board | Director | Founder & CEO of Olo Inc.; Board Member at Share Our Strength; Trustee at CIA | Noah Glass has been on PTLO's board since 2017. He is the founder and CEO of Olo, a restaurant technology company, and serves on nonprofit boards. | |
Paulette Dodson Board | Director | Board Member at Bark, Inc.; Board Member at Trupanion; Board Member at Mather | Paulette Dodson joined PTLO's board in 2021, bringing 30+ years of legal and governance expertise. Previously General Counsel at Alight and PetSmart. |
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With same-restaurant sales projected to be approximately negative 1% for the full year and facing macroeconomic headwinds along with aggressive discounting from competitors, how does management plan to drive traffic and reverse the negative comp sales trend without compromising margins or brand integrity?
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Given that you've reduced the size of your new restaurant prototypes to lower build costs, how confident are you that these smaller formats can sustain the same high AUVs without impacting customer experience or operational efficiency, especially considering the pivot towards off-premises dining?
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Considering pressures on commodity costs, particularly beef which constitutes over 30% of your food basket, and a competitive environment that may limit pricing power, how do you plan to manage food costs and protect margins next year? ,
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With the introduction of kiosks in all restaurants and plans for a loyalty program, what specific measurable impacts do you expect these initiatives to have on guest experience, transaction growth, and overall sales, and how will you assess their effectiveness in a challenging market? , ,
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As you expand into new markets like Houston and increase advertising spend in markets like Dallas-Fort Worth, how will you ensure that your marketing investments yield the desired traffic and sales growth, given that previous advertising campaigns didn't achieve the same incrementality as before due to market noise and discounting from competitors? , ,
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for PTLO.
- Q1 revenues reached $176.4 million with a 6.4% YoY increase and 1.8% same-restaurant sales growth
- Operating income was $10.4M; net income reached $4.0M with declines driven by higher income tax expense
- Restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA was $36.7 million with a 20.8% margin, showing a modest decline versus the prior year
- The company plans to open 12 new restaurants (including Restaurant of the Future 1.0) in fiscal 2025 to boost its expansion strategy
- Operational enhancements include improved drive-thru performance, increased kiosk adoption (approaching 30%), and a pilot breakfast test in Chicagoland, along with the launch of the Portillo's Perks loyalty program
- Updated guidance for 2025 projects comparable sales growth of 1%-3% and total revenue growth between 10%-12% as operational improvements continue
- Portillo's Inc. announced a cooperation agreement with Engaged Capital to jointly identify and appoint a new director with relevant restaurant operations experience to the Board, aiming to drive improved performance and enhanced unit economics.
- The agreement includes customary standstill and voting restrictions, ensuring a structured process for board nominations and committee appointments ahead of the 2025 Annual Meeting.