Del Taco Restaurants history

In 1966, Hackbarth, Jameson, and Naugle founded Red-E-Food Systems, Inc. with the idea of franchising the Casa Del Taco brand.

In 1972, Casa Del Taco opened its largest store to date in Newport Beach, California.

By 1975, Bell made a deal with PepsiCo, selling them his controlling shares of Taco Bell.

1976: Hackbarth and Jameson sell Del Taco.

Del Taco planned to launch 35 new units by the end of 1987.

In 1988, Del Taco greatly increased in size and geographic reach by merging with Naugles restaurant chain.

In June 1990, GE Capital pressured Del Taco to close 80 outlets which were unprofitable.

By September 1991, it had spent about $5 million to acquire 100 percent ownership of the chains.

In March 1993, Del Taco startled the financial world when it filed for protection under Chapter 11 in United States Bankruptcy Court.

By November 1994, the company had signed a deal to open 15 franchise stores in the Northeast as well as setting up new outlets in the Southeast, where the Del Taco name was already recognized.

In 2000, the average unit had $927,000 in sales, one of the tops in the fast food industry, beating out giant rival Taco Bell by almost $10,000 per store.

Paul Hitzelberger Franchisee since 2001

In February 2002, a group of former Del Taco employees, all of whom were black, brought a discrimination suit against the chain.

2003: Del Taco outlets top $1 million in annual average sales.

March 21, 2012 at 3:07 AM As an Australian who has wondered about Taco Bell, reading about it in books, having it referred to in sit-coms but having nary a Taco Bell in sight on our fair shores, it’s good to know a little more about it.