Cheyenne, Wyo. — Taco John’s International Inc., a leading quick-service Mexican franchise, has inked its biggest area development agreement to date with the largest Wendy’s franchisee, Meritage Hospitality Group, Inc. The group will build 50 new Taco John’s restaurants by March 31, 2026 with options to develop an additional 150 restaurants.
“Taco John’s is the perfect fit for our company. While exploring concepts to expand our portfolio, we were quickly attracted to Taco John’s,” says Gary Rose, president and COO of Meritage Hospitality Group. “We are excited about the Mexican restaurant segment and the ‘bigger, bolder, better’ direction of the brand. We’re excited to open our first restaurants near our headquarters in west Michigan in 2022.”
“This is historic for our brand,” says Brooks Speirs, vice president for franchise development. “As we begin our aggressive growth into new markets, there is no better partner than Meritage. While getting to know the group, I’ve been impressed with the organizational infrastructure, attention to detail, commitment to people, operations capabilities and development of top-notch restaurants. The best is yet to come for Taco John’s!”
Taco John’s recently launched several new and innovative menu items, a refreshed brand look and feel, and is rolling out a systemwide remodel program to attract new consumers and retain longtime fans. As Taco John’s expands, it is seeking franchisees, franchise groups and convenience store operators to develop the concept in key markets. For more information, visit www.tacojohnsfranchise.com.
Taco John’s, founded in 1969, has more than 380 stores open across 22 states.
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Meritage Hospitality Group is the largest Wendy’s franchisee, currently with 345 restaurants across 16 states.
SOURCE: Taco John’s