Completion of Del Taco Sale and Immediate Debt Reduction Actions
Closed sale of Del Taco on 12/22/2025 and used proceeds to make a $105 million partial prepayment on the August 2026 tranche. Total debt outstanding at quarter end was $1.6 billion and management reiterated plan to pay down an additional $200 million over the Jack on Track plan.
Planned Real Estate Monetization to Reduce Leverage
Generated $10.9 million of real estate proceeds in Q1 with associated gains of ~$6.3 million. Management expects $50–$60 million of real estate sale proceeds by the end of fiscal 2026 to be applied toward debt reduction.
Early Sales Momentum from 75th Anniversary Marketing
January/early-Q2 trends showed meaningful improvement vs Q1 (management said a couple hundred basis points better as Q2 began). Anniversary activations (Munchie Meals, Jibby collectible) drove higher average checks and trial, contributing to improved top-line trends when adjusting for weather.
Operational Improvements and 'Jack’s Way' Progress
Restructured field support and aligned restaurant training and audits to reinforce fundamentals. Mini refresh tests in ~20 restaurants delivered low single-digit sales lifts, and the company is expanding these efforts into Southern California.
Technology Modernization
Completed rollout of new POS and back-of-house systems (labor management and inventory) in late 2025. Q1 CapEx was $23.2 million (primarily IT), and management expects to leverage these systems for top-line upsells and bottom-line efficiencies.
Simplification and SG&A Reduction
Company simplified brands and marketing (reduced media messages from three to two) and continued to simplify operations. SG&A declined to $37.0 million (10.6% of revenues) from $41.2 million (11.1% prior year), driven by COLI market fluctuations and TSA income.
Franchisee Unit Economics and Local Benefits from Closures
Average Unit Volumes (AUVs) remain near ~$2.0 million for many franchisees. Franchisee closures (12 closed so far) have been associated with roughly a 30% sales benefit to nearby restaurants, according to management.