Del Taco Expands in New Mexico

LAKE FOREST, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 24, 2016) -  Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: TACO), the nation's second leading Mexican Quick Service Restaurant (MQSR) chain*, is expanding its New Mexico presence with five new locations, two recently opened and three in development. Building upon the brand's success in the southwestern United States, Del Taco opened a new restaurant in Farmington last year, then in Alamogordo in July, and is slated to open in Clovis, Gallup and Las Vegas, New Mexico for a total of ten units in the state.

Longtime franchise partner, QK Holdings, LLC (QK Holdings), which has an impressive 16-year history with the brand is leading the New Mexico expansion efforts. "Del Taco is the only restaurant where guests can enjoy freshly prepared tacos and burritos at the same drive-thru that's serving up delicious American favorites like burgers, fries and shakes," said Doug Koch, CEO of QK Holdings and Del Taco franchisee. "We've been operating in New Mexico since 2000, and the changes the brand has been making recently, from new menu platforms to a heightened focus on fresh prep, are really resonating with guests and improving our bottom line."

The MQSR category is one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry and Del Taco has carved out its own space in the segment. By combining the traditional convenience and value of a quick serve with the fresh preparation and quality on par with fast casual, Del Taco resonates with a broad demographic. Adding to the wide appeal is the brand's unique barbell menu approach, offering both premium product platforms like Epic Burritos, as well as the Buck & Under value menu which features the most variety at the lowest prices in the industry.

"With sixteen solid consecutive quarters of company owned same store sales growth, Del Taco is thriving and garnering national attention from consumers who are eager for Del Taco to open in their hometowns," said Laura Tanaka, director of franchise development. "Our year-over-year sales increases prove there is a real demand for a QSR+ experience like Del Taco, where guests don't have to choose between value and quality, but can have both with the added convenience of a drive-thru. We're in an exciting growth mode."

To build upon the brand's success across 16 states while capitalizing on the demands associated with its growing popularity nationwide, Del Taco is offering exclusive development territory rights for franchisees seeking to enter new markets. From site selection to hands-on training programs, Del Taco provides a proven business model and support system that sets its franchisees up for success. Interested candidates are encouraged to register for an informational webinar to learn more about the opportunities available to them at www.deltacofranchise.com.

*By number of units

About Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
Founded in 1964 in Southern California, Del Taco (NASDAQ: TACO) is the nation's second largest Mexican Quick Service Restaurant chain. Known for serving Mexican and American favorites prepared fresh in every restaurants' working kitchen, Del Taco's menu items taste better because they are made with fresh ingredients like cheddar cheese grated from 40-lb blocks, hand chopped pico de gallo, fresh sliced avocado, slow cooked beans made from scratch, and fresh-grilled marinated chicken and carne asada steak. In June 2016, Del Taco reinvigorated its UnFreshing Believable® marketing campaign to further communicate its commitment to serve guests everything that they love, including choosing not to choose between tacos and fries, fresh prep and fair price, or great tasting food and the convenience of a drive thru. With nearly 550 restaurants in 16 states, Del Taco serves more than three million guests each week. For more information, follow Del Taco on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit www.deltaco.com.