Jack in the Box

What Jack in the Box does

Jack in the Box is a San Diego-headquartered quick-service restaurant company founded in 1951 by Robert O. Peterson. As of early 2026 it operates approximately 2,125-2,128 restaurants across 21-22 US states under a predominantly franchised model (93% franchised), serving value-conscious consumers, Gen Z, and Millennials through a diverse menu of burgers, tacos, chicken, breakfast items, and limited-time offerings such as the Munchie Meal platform, the revived Hot Mess Burger, and a new matcha beverage lineup. Following the December 2025 divestiture of Del Taco to Yadav Enterprises for $119 million (versus a $575 million 2021 acquisition price), the company has narrowed to a single-brand, asset-light strategy under its "JACK on Track" turnaround plan.

The company operates on a technology stack that has been substantially modernized over the past 15 months: the Qu cloud-based unified commerce platform handles all order channels (drive-thru, digital kiosk, counter, app, delivery) across 2,100+ restaurants, while Restaurant365 serves as the sole mandated back-office inventory and accounting platform across all 2,128 corporate and franchise locations, providing real-time visibility into sales, food costs, labor, and AP automation. Digital kiosk deployment has reportedly reduced training time by over 50%, and the platform supports continued operational uptime during network or cloud outages.

The revenue model combines high-margin recurring franchise royalties and fees (from ~93% franchised units) with company-operated restaurant sales (~$254.3 million in Q2 2026, representing approximately 7% of the system, with a restaurant-level margin of 16.4%). Pricing is unit-based, anchored by value bundles such as 2-for-$6 Jack Wraps, $0.75 taco promotions, and limited-time Munchie Meals with collectibles and sweepstakes. Distribution is multi-channel: drive-thru, counter service, in-restaurant digital kiosks, the proprietary Jack app and rewards program, website ordering, and third-party delivery platforms. The company is led by Executive Chairman and Interim CEO Mark King (former CEO of Taco Bell Corp. and Xponential Fitness) following a 2026 leadership change driven by activist investor pressure from Biglari Capital.

Name

Jack in the Box

Legal name

Jack in the Box Inc.

Website

https://jackinthebox.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Jack in the Box is a San Diego-based quick-service restaurant chain operating approximately 2,128 franchised and company-owned locations across 22 US states, serving value-conscious consumers and Gen Z/Millennials with a diverse menu of burgers, tacos, chicken, and limited-time cultural collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quick Service Restaurants

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Burger QSR (THAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Quick service restaurants
• Fast food dining
• Franchise restaurant operations
• Drive-thru restaurant service
• Limited-time menu items

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Royalties and Fees: High-margin revenue stream from royalties and fees from approximately 93% franchised restaurant locations. The company shifted to an asset-light model following the Del Taco divestiture.
2. Company-Operated Restaurant Sales: Revenue from company-owned restaurants (approximately 7% of system), generating $254.3 million in Q2 2026 with same-store sales declining 3.8% and restaurant-level margin of 16.4%.
3. Asset Divestiture: Completed sale of Del Taco Holdings to Yadav Enterprises for $119 million in December 2025, part of strategic restructuring to reduce debt and simplify the business model.
4. Securitized Financing: Completed $500 million securitized financing through Series 2026-1 7.624% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, with proceeds used to repay existing debt obligations as part of the 'JACK on Track' debt reduction plan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jack in the Box operates and franchises approximately 2,125 quick-service restaurants across 22 U.S. states, selling a diverse menu of burgers, tacos, chicken sandwiches, and breakfast items through drive-thru, counter, digital kiosk, mobile app, and third-party delivery channels. Approximately 93% of locations are franchisee-operated, with the remainder company-operated. The brand is anchored by limited-time menu platforms such as the Munchie Meal and nostalgic product revivals, supported by a unified digital commerce and back-office technology stack.

Product overview

Jack in the Box operates as a quick-service restaurant company with two distinct concepts: its core Jack in the Box brand (~2,128 restaurants across 22 states) and the formerly owned Del Taco brand (divested December 2025). The product portfolio centers on a diverse QSR menu of burgers, tacos, and sandwiches, anchored by limited-time product platforms such as the Munchie Meal (with cultural collaborations like Hot Ones and The Hundreds), the revived cult-favorite Hot Mess Burger, and new offerings like the Matcha Beverage Lineup. These offerings are supported by the Jack Rewards loyalty program and delivered through multiple channels including drive-thru, digital kiosks, the Jack app, and third-party delivery platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Del Taco: Mexican fast-food restaurant chain acquired by Jack in the Box in 2021 and sold in 2025

Products and services

• Jack in the Box Quick-Service Restaurant Brand A San Diego-based quick-service restaurant chain operating approximately 2,128 locations across 22 U.S. states, offering burgers, tacos, chicken sandwiches, and breakfast items through drive-thru, counter, digital kiosk, mobile app, and third-party delivery channels for value-conscious consumers.
• Munchie Meal Platform A limited-time meal platform featuring bold-flavored bundled offerings paired with collectible merchandise and sweepstakes promotions, used as a vehicle for cultural collaborations and anniversary celebrations. Variants include the Smashed Jack Sliders Munchie Meal (launched April 2, 2026) and the Hot Ones Munchie Meal (launched June 1, 2026).
• Hot Mess Burger A limited-time cult-favorite burger featuring a seasoned beef patty, white cheese sauce, pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, and onion rings on sourdough bread, revived in February 2026 as part of the chain's 75th anniversary celebrations after being the most requested item on social media.
• Matcha Beverage Lineup A nationwide matcha beverage lineup launched February 2026, including a Matcha Iced Latte and an OREO Matcha Shake, formulated with real matcha for consistent flavor, color, and performance, targeting younger Millennials and Gen Z customers.
• Jack Rewards Loyalty Program Jack in the Box's loyalty and rewards program through which customers access exclusive promotions, collectibles, early access to product drops, mobile ordering, and sweepstakes participation. Integration with the proprietary Jack app enables mobile ordering, digital kiosk interaction, and promotional campaigns such as the $75,000 grand prize sweepstakes.
• Jack in the Box Franchise Program Franchise licensing program covering approximately 93% of the restaurant system, providing franchisees with brand standards, technology platforms (Qu unified commerce, Restaurant365 back-office), training, supply chain support, and marketing infrastructure in exchange for royalty and fee payments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced training time by over 50% through new unified commerce platform deployment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The HundredscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 June 2026Second collaboration as part of four-part 75th anniversary series, releasing vintage soccer-inspired streetwear collection featuring retro-inspired jerseys and headwear timed to coincide with summer soccer season.
• Hot Ones / First We FeastcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Limited-time Hot Ones Munchie Meal collaboration featuring spicy burger and sandwich options reimagined with Hot Ones sauces, along with tacos, curly fries, and exclusive merchandise. Available through July 22, 2026 as part of 75th anniversary celebration.
• First We Feast (Hot Ones)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 May 2026Partnership with First We Feast's Hot Ones brand for limited-time Munchie Meal collaboration launching June 1, featuring returning menu items like Sriracha Curly Fry Burger and Chick-N-Tater Melt with Hot Ones sauces, including exclusive The Last Dab: Apollo hot sauce packet.
• Restaurant365coreTechnology or Integration · 5 March 2026Selected as sole mandated back-office inventory platform across all 2,128 corporate and franchise locations following extensive proof of concept and pilot program. Provides real-time visibility into sales, food costs, labor, AP automation, and multi-entity management capabilities. Also serves as accounting engine for approximately half of all locations.
• Make-A-Wish ArizonaminorOthers · 1 March 202613th year of annual Wish Star fundraising campaign inviting guests at over 180 restaurants across Arizona and Imperial Valley to purchase $1 Wish Stars throughout March to help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
• The HundredscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2026Streetwear collaboration celebrating Jack in the Box's 75th anniversary with limited-edition 'Jack Was Here' merchandise collection featuring reworked Adam Bomb graphics on T-shirts, sweatshirts, and trucker hats. First drop launched January 28, 2026 with three additional drops planned throughout the year. Collection sold out within minutes in first drop.
• QucoreTechnology or Integration · 7 January 2026Unified commerce platform deployment completed across 2,100+ restaurants in 15 months, enabling all order channels (drive-thru, kiosk, counter, app, delivery) on one unified data backbone. Supports shift to asset-light model and AI-driven analytics foundation toward 20% digital sales target.
• WWT (World Wide Technology)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 7 January 2026Technology implementation partner facilitating the Qu unified commerce platform rollout across Jack in the Box's restaurant system in 15 months.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Whataburger: Privately held regional burger QSR with strong Southern U.S. brand affinity. Comparable menu positioning (burgers, breakfast, value meals) and a similar cult-favorite brand identity that Jack in the Box leverages in its limited-time nostalgia strategy.
• The Wendy's Company: Burger-focused QSR chain of comparable size and franchise mix, operating a national footprint with similar value-positioning and digital ordering initiatives. Closest direct comparable on system size, franchised ratio, and menu scope (burgers, chicken, breakfast).
• CKE Restaurants (Carl's Jr./Hardee's): Private operator of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's burger QSR chains with a Western/Southern U.S. footprint highly overlapping Jack in the Box's territory. Closely matched menu (burgers, breakfast, limited-time value offerings) and franchise-based model.
• Checkers/Rally's: Drive-thru-focused burger QSR chain with a heavily franchised, value-positioned model. Closely comparable on price-point competition, drive-thru-only formats in select markets, and limited-service operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Yum! Brands: Operator of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger with an almost entirely franchised QSR model. Highly relevant given Mark King's prior CEO role at Taco Bell and the overlap of QSR turnaround best practices.
• McDonald's Corporation: Largest global burger QSR incumbent with overwhelming brand scale and national footprint. Competes head-to-head with Jack in the Box in value-tier burger occasions and sets the benchmark for digital/drive-thru infrastructure investment.
• Restaurant Brands International: Parent of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs. Directly comparable as a multi-brand QSR holding company with a heavily franchised model pursuing digital and value-menu innovation across its portfolio.
• Inspire Brands: Multi-brand QSR holding company owning Sonic, Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', and Jimmy John's. Comparable as a franchised QSR platform pursuing unified digital/loyalty infrastructure across brands, similar to Jack in the Box's Qu platform strategy.
• Domino's Pizza: Tech-forward, heavily franchised QSR with industry-leading digital ordering platform. Comparable on franchise economics, digital-first GTM motion, and the demonstration that QSR operators can use unified commerce platforms to drive sustained comp growth.

Emerging players

• Five Guys: Privately held premium burger QSR with growing U.S. footprint. Relevant comparable for the higher-end burger occasion and for tracking premiumization trends within the broader burger QSR category where Jack in the Box competes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JackBox
• Facebookfacebook.com/jackinthebox
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jack-in-the-box

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jack in the Box