Portillo's Exploring Selling Brand

By Chuck Sudo in Food on May 1, 2014 3:00PM

The Portillo Restaurant Group announced Wednesday it was exploring a possible sale of the popular hot dog chain. Is nothing sacred?

Company CEO Richard J. Portillo said:

“We’ve enjoyed significant growth over the past 50 years, experiencing same-store sales increases over the last 10 years in the Chicagoland area, even when the economy as a whole suffered."

Portillo added the time is ideal to explore a sale of the brand, which has 38 locations in Illinois, Indiana, California and Arizona whose sales last year exceeded $8 million.

Keep calm and don't panic; there is currently no timetable as to when Portillo, one of the largest privately held restaurant groups in the nation, will begin entertaining offers for the Portillo's brand. If a sale happens it will leave Portillo with the Luigi's House and Honey-Jam Cafe brands in its portfolio.