Dive Brief:
- Taco John’s is launching catering in partnership with ezCater, the chain said in a press release emailed to Restaurant Dive on Friday.
- Taco John’s catering menu spans multiple dayparts and will include tacos and nacho bar options, desserts like churros, and breakfast burrito boxes.
- As office occupancy rates have gradually increased since 2020, catering has grown more attractive as an option for brands despite operational complexities. The channel can also aid QSRs with stagnant or dwindling traffic.
Dive Insight:
Heather Neary, who joined Taco John’s as CEO earlier this year, said catering offers a chance to introduce the brand to new consumers in new contexts.
“We want to expand the occasions where our guests can enjoy Taco John’s. We want to be a part of their special occasions and life events where we are a fresh, flavorful, and delicious part of their celebrations,” Neary said. “We hope to expand our reach and attract new lovers of the Taco John’s brand.”
According to the press release, Taco John’s offers pickup and delivery options for catering orders depending on the location. Prospective customers can order both through ezCater and Taco John’s channels.
Earlier this year, ezCater released a survey that predicted catering would continue to grow as a channel. That survey claimed close to half of consumers who tried a brand through in-office catering eventually ordered from the brand directly. The catering platform has been working with a number of QSRs to add the channel, including Habit Burger and Bojangles, both of which launched catering in June.
