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Just months into his tenure as Portillo’s CEO, Brett Patterson and his leadership team announced layoffs
After the second quarter, Portillo’s reduced its corporate workforce as part of a companywide effort to simplify the organization, lower costs, and redirect resources toward restaurant operations. This action didn’t affect restaurant-level workers. The move comes as the fast casual reassesses everything from restaurant development and site selection to prototype design after softer-than-expected performance in newer markets, particularly Texas.
The restructuring is expected to contribute to $10 million to $15 million in annualized savings alongside supply chain and development efficiencies, though Patterson said the primary goal wasn’t simply cutting expenses. “We made the purposeful decision to simplify our G&A structure so we can operate with greater focus, move more nimbly, and better support our restaurant teams,” Patterson said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call. Patterson said the layoffs were intended to push decision-making closer to operators and guests. The restructuring comes as Portillo’s works through several operational challenges.