Del Taco to make Louisville debut
Del Taco is expanding its footprint by entering a key Southern city.
The quick-serve Mexican chain has announced a five-store development agreement to bring its first stores to Louisville, Ky. Karan Pandher, a seasoned restaurant operator, is responsible for developing and operating all five Del Taco restaurants across the Louisville metropolitan area.
The new restaurants will introduce guests to Del Taco’s all-new Fresh Flex layout, which includes “bold, modernized” design and layout changes which the chain says will optimize the guest experience. The new contemporary and colorful interior design aims to bring to life the brand’s commitment to freshness and quality.
At the new Louisville stores, customers can take advantage of dual drive-thru lanes and pick-up lockers for orders placed via the Del Taco mobile app or third-party food providers, letting guests order ahead and delivery drivers skip the line.
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“Bringing Del Taco to Louisville has been an incredibly exciting journey for me. The journey with Del Taco so far has been great and smooth,” said Pandher. “As someone deeply invested in this city, I’m proud to introduce a concept that doesn’t just serve great food but also creates jobs, builds connections, and adds something new to Louisville’s vibrant food scene.”
While the exact locations for these new restaurants have yet to be determined, the brand expects to see the first grand opening in the next 18 to 24 months.
“Our team is excited to welcome Karan to the Del Taco family,” said Dustin Thompson, director of franchise development for Del Taco. “He possesses the entrepreneurial spirit, operational expertise, and passion for our brand that we look for in franchisees. This agreement represents a significant step in our strategic expansion plans across the Midwest. This announcement builds upon our recent development agreement for ten stores in the neighboring DMA of Indianapolis.”
The expansion comes as parent company Jack in the Box Inc. is exploring a sale of the Mexican chain. As part of its “Jack on Track” plan, the company has engaged Bank of America Securities to assist in the process of exploring strategic alternatives for Del Taco, including a possible divestiture of the business. Founded in 1964, Del Taco was acquired by Jack in the Box in March 2022 for roughly $585 million.
Del Taco currently operates nearly 600 restaurants across 17 states.
