Jack in the Box has offloaded Del Taco for $115 million in cash, handing the California-born Mexican chain to a Fremont-based franchise operator.
The acquisition by Yadav Enterprises Inc. closed Thursday, Oct. 16. It marks a sharp retreat for Jack in the Box, which paid $585 million for Del Taco in 2022. The discount price reflects a broader restructuring push at the San Diego fast food corporation.
Yadav Enterprises runs more than 300 restaurant locations across several brands, including Jack in the Box, Denny’s, El Pollo Loco, and Bay Area favorite Nick the Greek. The transaction covers 550 Del Taco stores and should finalize by January 2026.
“This divestiture is an important step in returning to simplicity,” said Jack in the Box CEO Lance Tucker. He added that the company would refocus on its namesake brand and called Yadav the “right steward” for Del Taco’s next chapter.
The sale follows Jack in the Box’s April announcement that it would shutter 150 to 200 underperforming locations. That move anchors the company’s “Jack on Track” initiative, designed to boost long-term financial performance across its restaurant system.
Proceeds from the Del Taco deal will help pay down debt and support a shift toward what executives describe as a “simpler, asset-light business model.”
Yadav Enterprises traces its roots to 1989. Founder and CEO Anil Yadav once built tacos at Jack in the Box back in 1984. Since then, his company has accumulated franchise rights for Corner Bakery, TGI Fridays, and by 2021, more than 200 Jack in the Box locations.
The deal positions Yadav as a major force in quick service Mexican food while giving Jack in the Box a leaner operational focus.
