Del Taco, the second-largest U.S. Mexican QSR brand, opened its first Fresh Flex location that maximizes consumer convenience, improves operational efficiency and puts third-party delivery and customer pickup front and center with dedicated drive-thru lanes for mobile orders and delivery providers.
The new location, at 5260 US Highway 192 in Orlando, Florida, opened in December, and is part of the company’s “Menu of Venues” strategy that was previously announced to transform the customer and delivery-driver experiences.
The Fresh Flex design is completely tech-enabled and includes options such as mobile app and third-party pick-up lockers, double drive-thru lanes with dedicated lanes for mobile orders and delivery providers, and designated parking lot areas for those who want to park and eat on the go.
“Our new Fresh Flex design is primed to capitalize on opportunities as it allows our franchisees to leverage a variety of real estate options. Now more than ever, a format that allows for flexibility is crucial,” said Del Taco CEO John Cappasola. “We have had so much excitement from current and prospective franchisees for Fresh Flex and our Menu of Venues model and I am thrilled that our first Fresh Flex drive-thru only location will be built by a franchisee in 2022.”
Del Taco’s new Fresh Flex design helped fuel a record year of franchise growth for the brand with nine new multi-unit franchise deals signed in 2021 for 68 new restaurants across 10 states. The agreements will add anticipated restaurants across the country in states such as Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia, while also infilling in California and Nevada.
“We’ve set our sights on continuing to expand Del Taco’s presence throughout the broader Southeast region for several years now and are thrilled with the progress made against that goal through the signing of new talented franchisees,” said Jeff Little, Del Taco’s SVP of development.
