Del Taco Finishes 2002 with Deals For 31 New Stores

Closing 2002 with a strong demand from experienced Restaurant franchisees, Del Taco today announced it signed five new development agreements in December 2002 for a total of 31 new restaurants, including first-time stores in three new markets.

The agreements, signed with experienced multi-unit operators, include 12 stores in St. Louis/St. Charles, Mo., four stores in St. George, Utah/Mesquite, Nev., one new store in Los Angeles and the new markets of Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo, Calif., with four stores, downtown San Francisco with five stores and Rockford, Ill., with six stores.

"We are definitely one of the hottest franchised restaurant concepts on the market today," said Helen Trent, director of Franchise sales. "Veteran restaurant operators have seen how our volumes exceed many national quick-service restaurant chains and they are very impressed with the consistent sales track record that the executive team produces for their franchisees year after year."

According to the most recent Nation's Restaurant News Top 100 report, Del Taco has the highest average sales volume of any Mexican quick-service restaurant. The report also states that the average Del Taco does 25% mre in sales than the average Taco Bell.

Del Taco is a privately held company that operates, or franchises, more than 400 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.