Del Taco Inks 14-Store Deal in St. Louis

Expanding its Midwest foothold, Del Taco today announced it has signed a deal with Restaurant Concepts of Missouri, LLC to open 14 franchised restaurants over the next seven years.

The development agreement enables Del Taco to make St. Louis a solid base for new Franchise expansion into the Midwest markets.

Del Taco opened its first St. Louis location in 1979 and currently has three company restaurants in St. Louis and Berkley, Mo.

The first restaurant is planned to open in late 2002. This development agreement is part of the company's hot franchisee investment interest that has accumulated 38 area franchised development agreements for an additional 237 locations over the last three years.

Del Taco is not only seeking additional franchisees in the St. Louis area, but they are also opening up new territories for franchise expansion in neighboring cities and states including Illinois.

Del Taco is a privately held company that operates, or franchises, more than 395 Mexican quick-service restaurants throughout the United States. Del Taco is the second largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States with individual restaurant sales volumes that exceed all other Mexican quick-service competitors.

Del Taco features fresh ingredients, made-to-order food, unique Mexican entrees and an American menu that includes double cheeseburgers, shakes and crinkle-cut fries. Del Taco restaurants are designed with a festive interior and drive-thru.