Taco Cabana, a subsidiary of Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc. announces it has sold its two company-owned Albuquerque locations to its local franchisee Mel Sloan. Sloan’s company also owns two other locations in Albuquerque.

A Taco Cabana franchisee since 1994, Sloan said he’s committed to positioning all of his locations in the new direction the Mexican-inspired, fast casual brand is headed.
 
”I’m thrilled to be acquiring these two company-owned Taco Cabana locations and to have the opportunity to expand our fan base in Albuquerque,” says Sloan. “It’s the new direction of the company that has me excited about once again growing with the Taco Cabana system.”
 
The decision to transfer the company-owned restaurants to Sloan was a matter of operational cost, efficiency, and business strategy. With the majority of Taco Cabana’s 160 locations in Texas, Tim Taft, Fiesta president and CEO, said the company wants to focus its growth and evolution efforts there. Taft added that Sloan already has a proven track record of success with his existing Taco Cabana franchise locations.
 
“We are excited to have Mel on board to continue as a franchisee and to have him take over the company-owned Albuquerque locations,” says Taft. “Mel’s franchise and managerial experience, along with his dedicated staff, are the perfect mix for an excellent Taco Cabana dining experience. He and his team will be focused on the continued evolution of the brand in New Mexico. I have total confidence in his abilities to lead his franchise as Taco Cabana continues to grow and expand.”
 
Taco Cabana is currently updating all 160 of its existing locations. All updates are scheduled to be complete by early 2014. In July, Taco Cabana debuted its first newly designed restaurant concept in Allen, Texas.
Denise Lee Yohn: QSR's Marketing Guru, News, Operations, Taco Cabana