Taco John’s International Inc. announced that three franchise locations opened in Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores (Love’s) in May. The new locations, which were converted restaurants, are part of Taco John’s 10-unit franchise agreement with Love’s.
The restaurants opened in Love’s stores in Circleville, Ohio; Jacksonville, Illinois; and Whitehouse, Tennessee.
“It’s a testament to our brand and the quality of our franchise system that we are able to continue to grow our footprint amid the pandemic,” says Brooks Speirs, Vice President for Franchise Development at Taco John’s. “We’re an attractive development partner for convenience stores and travel plazas like Love’s because of our high-quality menu, multiple dayparts and flexible layouts.”
In addition to its agreement with Love’s, Taco John’s has an eight-unit franchise agreement in place with Loaf ‘N Jug, one of the leading convenience store operators in the Rocky Mountain region.
Taco John’s is seeking to grow through franchising with qualified convenience store operators as it ramps up national franchise development efforts this year. Fueled by more than five decades of steady growth, a significant footprint of nearly 400 units open today and new branding, the iconic brand is an attractive opportunity for convenience store operators seeking to drive food sales with a beloved concept and menu.
Taco John’s franchising requirements for convenience store locations include drive-thru access, a minimum of 100,000 gallons monthly fuel sales and $30,000 monthly inside sales.
Differentiating itself in the popular Mexican quick-service segment, Taco John’s prides itself on a unique menu that features scratch-made ingredients. Its commitment to quality has established the brand as the go-to restaurant in its markets. Additionally, its significant drive-thru business, which historically represents just under 65% of system wide sales, has helped insulate the brand from recent market shifts.
The Taco John’s franchise opportunity separates itself as a thriving legacy brand with strong unit-level economics, prime markets available for multi-unit development and unique menu. The brand has recently launched several new and innovative menu items, a new refreshed brand look and feel, and is rolling out a systemwide remodel program, all serving to attract new consumers and retain longtime fans. As Taco John’s expands, it is seeking qualified, experienced and passionate franchisees, franchise groups and convenience store operators to develop the concept in key markets.
