Del Taco announced continued growth plans in Florida as new multi-unit franchisees drive development across the region.
In support of national growth efforts, Del Taco has signed a multi-unit development deal with FreshMex FL LLC—a well-established quick service operator equipped with more than 20 years of restaurant experience and 200-plus operating units across multiple brands. Broadening their portfolio with Del Taco, they are focused on growing the brand primarily in the Tampa metro market on Florida’s west coast.
The news comes as Del Taco announced impressive first-quarter systemwide sales growth of 14 percent at franchise restaurants versus 2020. Although the company is strongly-rooted on the west coast, Del Taco’s sales trends continue to reiterate the strength of non-California restaurants, which are primarily franchise operated.**
“Strong franchisee performance, especially outside of California, is helping to attract the highest caliber, growth-oriented operating teams to join our momentum,” says John D. Cappasola, Jr., president and Chief Executive Officer of Del Taco. “We’re thrilled to welcome experienced groups like FreshMex FL LCC that will further contribute to our significant franchise growth opportunity.”
In addition to the new FreshMex FL LLC signing, over on the east coast of Florida multi-unit operator, Navdeep Bassi is expected to open his first Del Taco restaurant in Melbourne on May 19. This will be the first restaurant as part of Bassi’s plans for several new units across the Space Coast region.
As the brand’s Florida pipeline builds, franchise growth and recruitment efforts are fueled by Del Taco’s new Fresh Flex design that allows company and franchise developers more flexibility in choosing real estate opportunities, including small footprint drive-thru only models, drive-thru endcaps, conversions and freestanding sites. Reconceptualizing the brand’s restaurants inside and out, the distinct design includes tech-savvy, innovative options like third-party pick-up stations and double drive-thru lanes with a dedicated lane for mobile orders and delivery pick-ups.
Rounding out Florida development news, the brand’s initial Fresh Flex prototype restaurant, the first of several planned Orlando openings, breaks ground this month and will open this fall. anked in the top five U.S. market for development opportunities, Orlando is a new company seed market to support statewide growth and further efforts to build brand presence in the Southeast.
Del Taco continues to operate nearly half of the system’s restaurants, creating perfect alignment with franchisees on strategies to drive both top and bottom line results. With locations in 16 states today, the company still has tremendous white space to grow and is looking to develop with experienced individuals and operating teams across the nation.
