Jack in the Box Goes Mobile With Branded Catering Truck

The Jack in the Box restaurant chain has rolled out a branded food truck called Jack's Munchie Mobile that will be able to serve the concept's iconic menu items, including burgers, tacos and french fries, to cater public and private events in Southern California.

The specially designed vehicle is about 12 feet longer than the average food truck, features custom refrigeration and freezer units and was fabricated with the same equipment as one of the chain's brick-and-mortar units, including grill, fryer, toaster, fountain beverage dispenser and prep area. It even has a 47-inch flat-screen digital menu board and satellite radio to entertain customers.

The side of the truck features a custom silk screen graphic of the "Jack" character holding a spatula and driving a chariot pulled by a tiger and a polar bear in hot pursuit of a Thunderbird clutching a take-out bag. The space inside the food truck is designed to accommodate a three-person prep crew under optimal conditions.

"The mobility of a food truck enables us to serve our guests, even if there's not a restaurant around," says Terri Funk Graham, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "We've engineered Jack's Munchie Mobile with state-of-the art kitchen technologies that enable us to prepare a variety of guest favorites - from our Jumbo Jack and Spicy Chicken Sandwich to our famous tacos. And with a powerful onboard generator, water heater and 30 gallons of potable water, we can serve up great-tasting Jack in the Box food anywhere and anytime."

Jack in the Box is not the first quick-serve chain to operate mobile units. In-N-Out Burger, Fatburger, Carl's Jr., and even casual dining chains like California Pizza Kitchen and Border Grill, now have them with franchisees clamoring for more, according to a report in FM's sister publication Nation's Restaurant News.