Jack in the Box Multi-Unit Franchise - Everything You Should Know

How Did Jack in the Box Expand Across the U.S.?

Ralston Purina Co. acquired Foodmaker in 1968, commencing a period of major growth for Jack that was driven by the goal to establish new footholds in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. By 1979, some 1,000 locations had been founded throughout the country. 

Members of Foodmaker’s management team partnered with outside investors in 1985 to leverage a buyout from Ralston Purina. Foodmaker went public for two years before converting back to private ownership in 1988. The parent company went public again in 1992, offering 17.2 million shares at $15 apiece.

Who is Jack Box?

In 1995, Foodmaker launched “Jack’s Back,” a series of TV commercials featuring our fictional founder, Jack Box. The campaign was wildly received and continues to this day, making it the longest-running campaign in the QSR industry.

And in a nod to the brand's enduring iconography, in 1999, we changed the name of our parent company from Foodmaker to Jack in the Box, Inc. Today, we're traded on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol JACK.

What Are Our Cultural Values?

At Jack in the Box, our culture is people first. We understand the importance of treating people well — all people, and not simply our guests. We expect everyone throughout our system to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity. We honor the wonderful variety of experiences and characteristics that each person at Jack in the Box brings to work every day and believe these differences enable us to see and understand our guests, franchisees, suppliers, and business colleagues through a rich and varied set of perspectives that make each of us better at what we do.

We Even Have Our Own Mantra!

Our cultural values and core mission are at the heart of what we do, and we’ve encapsulated it with a mantra:

We're Jack in the Box, but we've never stayed in the box. From our menu items to our employees, to our franchisees, we've always popped out in innovative, fun, unexpected ways. Unapologetically danced to the beat of our own music box. Being the curly fries in the world of regular fries, doing things others don't, serving things others won't, and challenging the status quo.

Why Do We Love Multi-Unit Investors?

Most of our 110+ franchisees are multi-unit operators, with the average franchisee owning 15 restaurants.

Our franchisees have a deep passion for our brand and strong operational expertise in our system. That’s because an astounding 75% of them originally started with Jack working in the kitchen, serving customers, and managing operations. Many of them have owned their stores for generations, and we’re now seeing second-and third-generation franchisees become operators themselves. Since many of them grew up together in and around Jack, they care deeply about our brand and about each other. And that loyalty and trust is perhaps our greatest competitive advantage. In fact, with 2,100 locations operating across the country, 2/3 of our franchisees say they want to grow further!

A unique fact about Jack in the Box is that 46 of our franchisees started with Jack before 1990! Our longest-tenured franchisee has been with Jack in the Box since 1966! We think this speaks to the family-style culture we’ve cultivated at Jack in the Box.

What Makes Jack in the Box Different?

Why Do Customers Appreciate the Wide Variety of Our Menu?

Our menu variety is unique in the industry, as is the passionate loyalty generations of fans have developed for such a varied array of different items. Our menu has a cult following that goes beyond the average QSR, and our devoted group of passionate guests loves to shout out about their Jack in the Box cravings. And, you might even spot a Jack in the Box antenna ball on their cars! This wide range of products, from tacos to burgers to chicken sandwiches and churros to breakfast croissants and snacks, is just one of our competitive advantages. Our offerings go beyond just basic burgers and fries and amazing shakes; we excel at a diverse array of items that can be ordered any time of day. So no matter when your customers’ cravings strike, Jack has them covered!

Does Jack Really Invent New Menu Items Throughout the Year?

We sure do. Jack’s innovative spirit has been our driving force for over 70 years, and this is reflected in our menu. Our iconic innovations – like the Sourdough Jack and our famed tacos – are what keep generations of customers coming back visit after visit. In 1969, we were the first fast-food chain to offer a breakfast sandwich, which would later be called the Breakfast Jack. In 1971, we introduced our famous Jumbo Jack, and in 1982, Jack in the Box introduced the first portable salad in the fast-food industry. Our 1995 marketing campaign – Jack’s Back – became the longest ongoing advertising campaign in the QSR industry. By 2007, Jack in the Box introduced the first 100% sirloin burger, and we’re still focusing on continued innovation today. Innovation is built into our DNA.

What Are Some of Your Recent Menu Innovations?

From the Cluck Sandwich to our Sauced & Loaded snacking lineup, our recent cult innovations have been eagerly embraced by Jack’s most loyal fans and are helping us gain a new legion of fans. One of our most recent debuts is our Tiny Tacos, which was quickly followed up by our Spicy Tiny Tacos and our Loaded Spicy Tiny Tacos. In 2021, we partnered with Jason Derulo on the launch of our "One in a Mill" virtual restaurant concepts. This promotion was offered exclusively on Uber Eats and had multiple unique menu items only offered through these virtual kitchens. Rest assured, our R&D team is always working on the next fan favorite!

What Time Does Jack in the Box Close?

Never! The last part of Jack's winning product strategy is our accessibility. We’re available 24/7 with an all-day, everyday menu, which sets Jack apart from the competition. So, if you want tacos for breakfast, we have you covered. Breakfast for dinner? Be our guest. In fact, it’s our accessibility that has been helping drive our strong performance, especially during our breakfast and late-night dayparts. By offering all five dayparts, you’re able to capture customers throughout the day and capitalize on traffic when your competitors might be closed.

How Does Jack in the Box Support Its Franchisees?

Last year, we ushered in a new, growth-focused leadership team with deep industry experience and a drive to strengthen Jack’s relationships with its franchisees. We’ve enhanced every aspect of our franchisee support programs with the goal of creating a franchise opportunity like no other QSR. We provide support to franchisees across multiple areas. Here are some examples of how we’ll support you in the opening of your restaurants.

Will Jack Help Me with Real Estate and Site Selection?

Our goal is to educate our franchisees on their potential markets so they can maximize their potential. Our real estate team is stacked with industry experts who help our franchisees take the lead in their markets using the best in real estate planning software and direct hands-on experience. We provide a comprehensive analysis that gives our franchisees a full picture of their market(s), including multi-unit location planning in a target territory, population, and consumer analytics for a given trade area, traffic counts along the roads around your location, and much more.

What Kind of Leasing Support Can I get?

The Jack in the Box leasing team is a welcomed asset to franchisees who choose to lease their locations. When needed, we help you in identifying key things to look for in leases that you might overlook. With our years of experience, we help you understand the key components of your lease. Our team specializes in lease negotiations and will be by your side to help you negotiate the best possible commercial lease for you and your restaurant. Franchisees can count on our in-house experts to help you every step of the way. We're here to help you succeed. The best part? This comprehensive support is all included in our initial franchise fee.

Will You Help Me During the Construction Process?

Yes. Once a franchisee has closed on their location, Jack’s construction team works with you to begin the construction process. We’ll assist you with architectural selection, permitting, finding the right general contractor, ordering your store décor and signage, and scheduling utility services and hookups. From store design and blueprints to understanding what materials are needed to design your dream restaurant, our team is here to support you.

How Do You Support Franchisees in Setting Up Operations and in Preopening?

Before opening, our operations team assists franchisees with ordering their inventory, recruiting employees, preopening, and training staff. Also, prior to opening, each franchisee or their designated market operator must complete Jack’s 10- to 14-week training program. This program is typically held in San Diego, but in some instances, can take place closer to your location if a training store is approved and available. Prior to opening, we also provide a web-based training program that all Jack in the Box associates must complete, along with several required courses in food safety.

What Kind of Support Will I Get After I’m Open?

Once a restaurant opens, Jack offers franchisees and their employees' access to our training materials, new product preparation guides, and information on new procedures and requisite training. You can expect periodic consultation and advice on your store’s operations and marketing, including studies to improve labor efficiency and technology and equipment enhancement. You will also be assigned a franchise business consultant(s) or FBCthat will become your point of contact for any needs or questions you may have on a day-to-day basis. Our FBC’s will work with you to implement new marketing campaigns, equipment ordering, help with your POS system, etc. When something is outside their area of expertise, they will help connect you with someone internally who can help you further. Our FBC’s are vital to our business and a tremendous asset for you as a franchisee.

How Will Jack Help Me Promote My Store?

As in everything we do, Jack creates advertising and promotional campaigns that are unapologetically outside the box. We cut through the marketing clutter in a highly competitive industry to connect with customers through a mix of media. We use an omnichannel approach when it comes to reaching our customers to drive traffic to your stores and create brand awareness. We leverage platforms like TV, radio, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more to be top of mind for consumers across all of our markets.

Why Is Jack in the Box a Multi-Unit Investor Franchise?

Most of our 110+ franchise owners are multi-unit operators, with the average franchisee owning a total of 15 restaurants. In fact, with 2,100 locations operating across the country, 2/3 of our franchisees say they want to grow further!

Our franchisees have a deep passion for our brand, and many have operational expertise within our system. That's because an astounding 75% of them originally started with Jack working in areas like the kitchen, serving customers, and managing operations. Many of them have owned their stores for generations, and we're now seeing second-and third-generation franchisees become operators themselves.

Since many of them grew up together in and around Jack, they care deeply about our brand and about each other. And that loyalty and trust is perhaps our greatest strategy in distinguishing us from other QSRs.

How Many Dayparts Does Jack in the Box Serve?

Breakfast?

Lunch?

Dinner?

Late Night?

Snacks?

Whenever!

Whereas many QSRs offer two to three-dayparts, Jack is known for our five-daypart menu. And we offer every menu item all day, every day. Jack fans count on us to be open whenever they’re hungry, serving whatever they crave no matter the time. The variety and accessibility of our food are what drive our strong performance and unmatched brand loyalty.

How Does Jack in the Box Stay Ahead of the Game?

We’re Jack in the Box, but we’ve never stayed in the box. From our menu items to our employees to our franchisees, we’ve always popped out in innovative, fun, and unexpected ways.

What Time Do You Serve Breakfast?

All-day, all night, 24/7! In 1969, we transformed breakfast-on-the-go with the industry's first breakfast sandwich – a fresh-cracked egg with a slice of ham and American cheese on a hamburger bun. And while the iconic Breakfast Jack remains a fan favorite today, it shares the marquee with a serious lineup of breakfast cult favorites – all available whenever our customers crave it.

Does Jack Serve Different Items Depending on the Time of Day?

Nope! At Jack in the Box, we quickly learned that customers don’t just crave breakfast in the morning or churros for a snack. They want our Cluck Chicken Sandwich and our signature eggrolls for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So, every menu item we sell can be ordered any time of day. If your customers crave their favorite food throughout the day, why would we stop them from satisfying their cravings?

Did Jack Really Invent the Drive-Thru?

Why, yes, we did. Before Jack, drivers had to pull up to a restaurant’s window to order their meal. That all changed in 1951 when founder Oscar Peterson obtained the rights to a cutting-edge, two-way intercom system from a restaurateur in Alaska. Peterson installed the system in a jack-in-the-box clown head at his original store in San Diego. It was such a hit that he soon fashioned talking clown heads at all his Jack in the Box locations -- thus giving birth to the great American fast food drive-thru we know and love today. So while many others race to add drive-thru’s to their concepts, we’ve been embracing them for decades!

What Other Menu Items Did Jack Invent?

A lot! For example, we introduced the first portable salad in the fast-food industry in 1982. Talk about being ahead of the game! We also raised the bar for the quick-serve industry once again in 2007, launching the first 100% Sirloin Burger in the industry.

Is Jack in the Box a Publicly Traded Company?

In 2009, Jack Box stepped up to the Nasdaq podium and rang in a new era for the iconic brand. After 50 years operating under the parent company Foodmaker, Inc., Jack officially changed the name to Jack in the Box Inc. and moved the company over from the New York Stock Exchange. The move celebrated the enduring impact of the iconic brand and solidified an ambitious commitment to grow our regional footprint.