Jack in the Box

In 1941, Robert O. Peterson founded Topsy’s Drive-In, which later evolved into the famous fast-food chain Jack in the Box.

Jack in the Box was founded by Robert O. Peterson, with its first restaurant opening in San Diego, California.

In 1952, the San Diego City Directory listed Oscar's Jack in the Box as one of the businesses in the 6300 block of El Cajon Blvd. It was originally known as Oscar's Jack in the Box.

In 1957, the user's family moved near the 63rd St Jack in the Box. The user recalls the upper picture resembling what they remember, and mentions that the hamburgers from there were the worst tasting.

Jack in the Box opened its 14th restaurant on this date, marking a significant milestone in its growth.

On November 8, 1960, Jack in the Box opened its first restaurant outside of California.

In 1963, Jack in the Box expanded to Texas, with units opening in Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth areas.

On February 1, 1964, Jack in the Box began opening restaurants in more states, eventually expanding to 21 states across the United States.

Jack in the Box Inc. was incorporated in July 1965, after Foodmaker Co. spun off its restaurant division.

In 1967, Jack in the Box founder Robert O. Peterson sold the company to the Ralston-Purina food company, marking the end of a prosperous period for the fast food chain. This acquisition changed the ownership and direction of the brand.

In 1969, Jack in the Box became the first fast food chain to introduce breakfast items on its menu, setting a trend in the industry.

In the late 1970s, Ralston-Purina decided to change the direction of Jack in the Box by targeting young college-educated city-dwelling adults known as 'yuppies' instead of families with children. This strategic shift led to increased sales and business growth.

In 1971, Jack in the Box made significant updates by becoming the first restaurant to offer both indoor and outdoor seating. Additionally, they introduced their iconic burger, the Jumbo Jack.

On January 9, 1979, Jack in the Box celebrated a milestone by opening its 1000th restaurant, marking a significant achievement in its expansion and popularity.

Around 1980, Jack in the Box underwent a significant shift in its marketing strategy, targeting older, more affluent customers with a higher-quality menu. This change was accompanied by a rebranding effort and new advertising campaigns.

In 1981, horse meat labeled as beef was found at a Foodmaker plant supplying meat to Jack in the Box, leading to a scandal involving mislabeled meat.

In 1990, the 1,000th Jack in the Box unit was opened in Yorba Linda, California, marking a significant milestone for the chain.

In 1993, Jack in the Box faced a severe E-coli outbreak linked to undercooked burgers, resulting in 732 people getting infected, 171 hospitalized, and four deaths. This incident tarnished the company's reputation and led to financial struggles, almost leading to bankruptcy.

Following a 69 million dollar loss, Jack in the Box experienced a financial turnaround in 1994 with a 20 million dollar profit margin after investing 35 million dollars in remodeling their businesses. This success helped the company regain its competitive position in the fast-food industry.

The Sourdough Jack, which uses two slices of sourdough bread with a hamburger patty, has been around since 1997 (although it was first introduced in 1991 as the 'Sourdough Grilled Burger').

Jack in the Box attempted a fast casual spin off called JBX Grill, similar to Panda Express or Chipotle, but it was unsuccessful and the JBX grills were eventually converted back to regular Jack in the Box restaurants.

In 2001, Jack in the Box aired an ad campaign promoting their milkshakes in the style of a 1970s anti-drug spot, featuring 'Larry The Crime Donkey' as a parody of McGruff the Crime Dog.

In 2002, Jack in the Box launched a major promotional initiative called 'Our Best Burgers Ever' to reignite growth.

Jack in the Box acquired Qdoba Restaurant Corporation, operator of the Qdoba Mexican Grill chain. This acquisition marked the company's entry into the fast-casual dining sector.

In 2005, Jack in the Box announced plans for nationwide expansion by 2010. The chain started airing ads in states far from their current locations to support this objective.

In 2007, Jack in the Box introduced the 100% sirloin burger to their fast food chain.

By 2008, Jack in the Box started selling real fruit smoothies in their restaurants.

During Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009, Jack in the Box aired commercials showing Jack in a coma after being hit by a bus.

In September 2010, it was announced that 40 under-performing company-owned Jack in the Box restaurants, mainly in Texas and the Southeast, would close.

In March 2011, Jack in the Box introduced the Munchie Mobile in San Diego, a food truck serving their burgers and fries.

On January 21, 2012, Jack in the Box unveiled a new logo and website, refreshing their brand image and online presence.

In November 2017, Jack in the Box became a sponsor of the Dallas Fuel and Team Envy, two professional video game-playing teams.

In July 2018, the National Jack in the Box Franchisee Association voted 'no confidence' in the company's CEO and called for his resignation.

On December 6, 2021, Jack in the Box announced the acquisition of Del Taco for $12.51 per share.

In 2023, Jack in the Box replaced the original Munchie Meals with a new Build Your Own Munchie Meal which includes items like Ultimate Cheeseburger, Jack's Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Cluck Sandwich, and a Double Jack.