Dive Brief:
- Del Taco updated its catering program on Thursday by enabling ordering through its own website and by adding taco salads to the catering menu, the chain said in a press release.
- The move is part of the brand’s Project Del Sunrise revival plan, which aims to restore the chain’s fortunes after Yadav Enterprises acquired it from Jack in the Box last year.
- Other chains looking to reverse sales troubles, drive average ticket and generally improve performance have also updated or launched new catering programs this year, with Chipotle emphasizing group orders and Denny’s adding catering as a major part of its Project Grand Slam.
Dive Insight:
Prior to the changes, Del Taco’s catering orders were routed through a third-party ordering platform, rather than the chain’s website. Shifting away from that model could prove beneficial.
“The new first-party experience gives Del Taco and its restaurants greater ownership of the catering relationship,” the company said in the press release.
In addition to the shift in channel, the company said the new catering system provides new tools operators can use to manage catering orders. Del Taco plans further catering changes in the future, including new packaging and investments in promotions and advertising, according to the press release.
Ulyses Camacho, the chain’s chief transformation officer, said these changes will help Del Taco win new dining occasions by leveraging a menu that’s already well-suited to large orders.
“Our catering relaunch supports an improved sales channel for our restaurants and franchise partners, while creating a significant opportunity to be part of occasions where Del Taco has historically had a limited presence,” Camacho said.
Consumers placing catering orders can “choose from Individual Meals featuring tacos, Epic Burritos or Taco Salads; Burrito Boxes with Classic or Epic Burritos; and a Buffet Style Taco Kit with a choice of proteins,” according to the press release.
After struggling for years under the ownership of Jack in the Box, the brand was sold in 2025 to Yadav Enterprises. Since then, the brand has used limited-time offers — like slow-cooked carnitas — and value plays to try to improve its momentum.
Del Taco’s turnaround plan is meant to improve restaurant-level performance, boost guest occasions and strengthen long-term growth. As part of that plan, Del Taco previously said it would bring back its Classic Burrito platform using original preparation means and product names.
Increasing its catering orders — which tend to have larger tickets than individual QSR orders — could help the brand improve its unit economics. Other chains that saw sales stagnate in 2025 and early 2026 have made a similar bet. Denny’s, for instance, which also went private recently and is now partially owned by Yadav, launched a national catering channel through a partnership with ezCater earlier this summer. In February, Sweetgreen unveiled a scalable “build your own” catering bar. Chipotle is also looking to increase its catering occasions.
