Qdoba In Growth Spurt

SAN DIEGO-Jack in the Box’s Qdoba Mexican Grill chain is expanding at a fast pace, with executives planning on adding 85 to 90 restaurants to the 250-unit concept next year. That number is up from the 77 planned for this year, which accounted for a 40% increase in the chain’s growth in 2004.

Qdoba is not the only concept that will add units next year. The company’s 2,049-restaurant namesake chain has 45 to 55 new units planned, and Quick Stuff, its 44-location convenience-store will open 13 to 15 new doors.

“By sharing the development costs among the three businesses, we can build restaurants in high-traffic areas that might otherwise be too costly for a stand-alone restaurant,” said Linda Lang, Jack in the Box’s chairman and CEO, during the company’s quarterly conference call. Fifteen of the 49 new Jack in the Boxes opened this year had Quick Stuff units attached to them.