LAKE FOREST, Calif.,
Jan. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Del
Taco, the iconic Mexican-American concept, is debuting its
highly-anticipated new store prototype — a sleek, contemporary
model that brings the brand to life through a collection of
enhancements advancing its leading position in the QSR-plus
category.
The bold, new Del Taco "Fresh Flex" prototype reconceptualizes
the restaurant inside and out. Striking exteriors and distinctive
interiors evoke the brand's contemporized feel. At the same time,
the new design expands real estate opportunities to help lower net
investment costs, provides ultimate convenience for guests and
optimizes operational efficiencies.
"Continuing to adapt and evolve is the lynchpin for Del
Taco to remain ahead of the curve in the restaurant industry," said
Del Taco CEO John Cappasola. "Our
new prototype solidifies our relationships with new and
longstanding fans by offering them the most efficient, convenient
and enjoyable environment possible. Equally as powerful, 'Fresh
Flex' propels broader growth opportunities."
Checking all the boxes for today's consumer, the new store
design aims to strengthen key areas that impact guest satisfaction:
restaurant accessibility, speed of service and brand transparency.
A future-focused model at its foundation, the latest design
features innovative additions to facilitate the multiple ways
guests now experience Del Taco, including third-party delivery
pick-up stations, double drive-thru lanes dedicated to mobile
orders or delivery driver pickups and dedicated parking lot areas
for those who want to park, eat and go.
In collaboration with hospitality design firm MY Studio ID, Del
Taco's reimagined exterior and interior designs better communicate
the brand's commitment to being "Fresh as Del." The new "Fresh
Flex" model exudes curb appeal with its open, well-illuminated
building structure, back-lit towers and vibrant color palette.
Inside the restaurant, built-in freshness coolers provide a
transparent display of the high-quality ingredients that are
prepped daily. Additional visibility extends to the brand's working
kitchen format where guests can see "Fresh as Del" come alive—
avocados sliced for fresh guacamole, fresh-grated cheddar cheese
and fresh chicken and carne asada grilled to perfection.
Del Taco is leveraging this new store design to offer multiple
buildout options to maximize growth opportunities through a "Menu
of Venues" strategy with building prototypes that vary in size from
1,200 to 2,400 square feet. The various prototypes allow company or
franchise developers more flexibility in choosing real estate
opportunities, including small footprint drive-thru only models,
drive-thru endcaps, conversions and freestanding sites. All
buildings feature the fresh, modernized design and provide
strategic operational enhancements to improve overall
performance.
"We put a major emphasis on optimizing kitchen efficiency. It is
the production engine of our brand, so each new restaurant size
scales around the kitchen," added Del Taco Chief Operating Officer
Chad Gretzema. "The operational
enhancements in the kitchen as well as in the front of the house
strengthen our four-wall economics, and align us with our franchise
partners' top priorities while we drive new unit growth."
As Del Taco continues to accelerate expansion with new and
existing franchisees, the design's consistent operational elements
will help facilitate the development process, from the construction
phase to crew member training. Beyond new locations, the fresh
design will also be applied to current Del Taco restaurants as a
remodeling opportunity to drive sales. In both cases, the new store
design acts as a strategic growth catalyst to support restaurant
economics.
"First and foremost, we needed a design that was going to
support our aggressive growth goals," said Billy Jensen, an operating partner of Jetz
Foods, a multi-unit franchise group in the Southeast. "In site
selection, a 'one-size-fits-all' model doesn't work because every
market is different. Del Taco understands that, and they've
provided solutions to address common issues developers and
operators see every day. As we look to the future, we truly have
significant growth potential and are well positioned for the myriad
of traditional and emerging ways guests want to interact with our
brand."
Del Taco's unique QSR-plus positioning within the
Mexican-American segment presents great growth potential for
experienced multi-unit operators looking to diversify their
portfolios. With development areas open across the United States, Del Taco continues to seek
experienced individuals and groups who are looking for the
opportunity to claim a territory and grow alongside the company. To
learn more and to inquire about available franchise opportunities,
visit the "Fresh Flex" design web page.
About Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
Del Taco
(NASDAQ: TACO) offers a unique variety of both Mexican and American
favorites such as burritos and fries, prepared fresh in every
restaurant's working kitchen with the value and convenience of a
drive-thru. Del Taco's menu items taste better because they are
made with quality ingredients like fresh grilled chicken and carne
asada steak, sliced avocado, freshly grated cheddar cheese,
slow-cooked beans made from scratch, and creamy Queso
Blanco.
Founded in 1964, today Del Taco serves more than three million
guests each week at its approximately 600 restaurants across 16
states. Del Taco's commitment to providing guests with the best
quality and value for their money originates from cooking,
chopping, shredding and grilling menu items from scratch. For more
information, visit www.deltaco.com.
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SOURCE Del Taco