jackinthebox

Jack in the Box is an American fast-food restaurant chain that operates in the United States, offering a mix of burgers, tacos, chicken items, and sides. The chain was founded in 1951 by Robert O. Peterson in San Diego, California, as a drive-thru hamburger stand designed for quick service. The company developed its advertising mascot, Jack, in the 1960s, and the character became a long-running element of its branding.

The chain expanded across the western United States in the 1960s and 1970s and later grew to hundreds of locations nationwide. In 1993, Jack in the Box faced a nationwide E. coli outbreak linked to its hamburgers, which led to temporary closures, recalls, and significant changes in food-safety practices and regulatory oversight across the industry.

Jack in the Box Inc. is the parent company and is publicly traded. As part of its corporate strategy, it owns the Qdoba Mexican Eats brand, which was acquired in 2003. The companies operate a combination of company-owned and franchised restaurants, with locations concentrated in the United States and a few international markets. The menu typically features items such as the Jumbo Jack and Sourdough Jack burgers, as well as tacos, chicken, and sides, alongside occasional regional or limited-time offerings.

Notable aspects of the brand include its long-running advertising presence, the use of the Jack character in marketing, and its positioning as a value-oriented quick-service option in the fast-food sector.