Jack in the Box Inc.

Who owns Jack in the Box?

Jack in the Box is owned by public shareholders of Jack in the Box Inc. (Nasdaq: JACK). No single entity controls the company, though activist investor Biglari Capital holds a significant minority stake.

Is Jack in the Box publicly traded?

Yes. Jack in the Box Inc. trades on Nasdaq under the ticker JACK.

Who is the CEO of Jack in the Box?

Mark King serves as executive chairman and interim CEO since May 13, 2026. Taylor Montgomery joined as president in September 2026 and is expected to become permanent CEO.

How many Jack in the Box restaurants are there?

The company operated 2,136 restaurants as of September 28, 2025, with fiscal 2026 guidance targeting 2,050 to 2,100 after planned closures and openings.

Does Jack in the Box still own Del Taco?

No. Jack in the Box sold Del Taco to Yadav Enterprises in December 2025 for $115 million.

What is JACK on Track?

JACK on Track is the company's restructuring program covering a block closure program for underperforming restaurants, real estate sales to reduce debt, lower capital spending, and refranchising, launched to stabilize the business.

Robert O. Peterson opened the first Jack in the Box in San Diego in 1951, a drive-through with a two-way intercom that made it an early fast-food innovator. His Foodmaker Company expanded through the Southwest and went public before Ralston Purina acquired it in 1968.

Management bought the company back in a 1985 leveraged buyout. The defining crisis came in 1992 to 1993, when an E. coli outbreak linked to undercooked burgers sickened more than 700 people and killed four children. The company survived through sweeping food safety reforms that influenced industry-wide cooking standards, and it rebuilt the brand in the late 1990s around the returning Jack mascot campaign.

The company acquired Qdoba in 2003 and sold it to Apollo Global Management in 2018. In March 2022 it bought Del Taco for $585 million, an acquisition that failed to perform; after seven consecutive quarters of Del Taco same-store sales declines, Jack in the Box sold the chain to Yadav Enterprises in December 2025 for $115 million.

Since 2024 the JACK on Track plan has driven restructuring: a block closure program removing underperforming restaurants, real estate sales to pay down debt, capital spending cuts, and an estate targeted at 2,050 to 2,100 restaurants for fiscal 2026. Activist investor Sardar Biglari's challenge reshaped the board in 2025 and 2026, bringing in the directors who now lead the turnaround.

The company publishes animal welfare and responsible sourcing commitments, including cage-free egg goals and antibiotic policies, plus community support through the Jack in the Box Foundation focused on youth programs.

It holds no B Corp certification and its disclosures are self-reported rather than independently audited.

The 1993 E. coli outbreak is the company's defining historical controversy, resolved through industry-leading food safety reform. Current scrutiny centers on activist investor Biglari Capital's campaign, which reshaped the board and continues to influence strategy.