Family-owned Whataburger today announced the acquisition of its largest franchisee, Barrand, Inc., a Red Oak, Texas-based company with 47 Whataburger restaurants in Northeast Texas and the Florida Panhandle.
These restaurants were operated by Barrand, Inc.’s owner and longtime Whataburger franchisee, Randal Brown. Whataburger Vice President of Franchise Development Clifton Rutledge will oversee the newly acquired restaurants, 24 in Northeast Texas and 23 in the Florida Panhandle, and work with approximately 1,700 Barrand, Inc. team members to continue Whataburger’s 58-year burger tradition.
Brown became a Whataburger franchisee in 1983, opened his first location in Desoto, Texas, and demonstrated steady growth to 47 restaurants.
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Whataburger will now own 591 of 712 Whataburger restaurants, including 84 percent of all its locations in Florida, strengthening its position in the first state Whataburger expanded to outside of Texas.
