Jack in the Box facts for kids
Public (NASDAQ: JACK) | |
Industry | Restaurants |
Founded | San Diego, California (1951) |
Headquarters | San Diego, California |
Key people
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Linda A. Lang, chairwoman Robert O. Peterson, founder Jack Box, fictional founder and fictional chairman |
Products | Fast food |
Number of employees
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42,500 (2008) |
Jack in the Box is an American fast food restaurant chain. It was founded in 1951 by Robert O. Peterson. Peterson opened his restaurant in Long Beach, California on the Pacific Coast highway. It featured a clown's head on top of the building. Instead of using carhops like other drive-in restaurants, Peterson used a two-way intercom. He also pioneered the drive-through. It allowed a customer to place their order while the car ahead of them was picking up their order. This made service much faster and Jack in the Box became known for fast service.
Jack in the Box has over 2,200 restaurants in 21 states and Guam. At first the menu was simple. Only 15 items were offered including hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries and soft drinks.
Contents
Menu
Today the menu has expanded to include items such as the Jumbo Jack, Potato Wedges, and Ultimate Cheeseburger. The Ultimate Cheeseburger won the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 Golden Icon Awards for "Best Burger"; the Golden Icon Awards are presented annually by Travolta Family Entertainment.
Jack in the Box also offers an American version of ethnic cuisine - such as egg rolls and tacos, along with breakfast burritos. New items come in on a rotation every three to four months. Jack in the Box also carries seasonal items such as pumpkin pie shakes, Oreo mint shakes , and eggnog shakes during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
In locations in Hawaii, local delicacies are a regular part of the menu. They include the Paniolo Breakfast (Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice platter) and teriyaki chicken and rice bowl. In the Southern United States, the company offers biscuits and sweet tea. In the spring of 2007 Jack in the Box introduced its sirloin burger and followed this up with recently the sirloin steak melt.
Many Jack in the Box locations are freestanding, while others may be attached to some gas station service centers or at malls and shopping centers. Most Jack in the Box locations serve the entire menu, including breakfast, during all operational hours, and many Jack in the Box locations are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Advertising campaigns
In the 1970s, Jack in the Box commercials involved a small 3 1/2-year-old joyous boy named Rodney Allen Rippy. He usually sang, "Make life a little easier..."
The restaurant gained in popularity after a highly successful marketing campaign that featured the fictitious Jack in the Box CEO "Jack" character, who has a ping pong ball-like head and is dressed in a business suit. Its commercials tend to be lightly humorous and often involves Jack making business decisions about the restaurant chain's food products.
In addition, many of its commercials have advertised free car antenna balls with every meal, thus increasing brand awareness. Often different types of antenna balls will be available if a holiday or major event is approaching.
Images for kids
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Jack in the Box restaurant in Willits, California
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Jack in the Box headquarters in San Diego, California (February 2008)
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New Jack in the Box in Scottsdale, Arizona, shown here in 2009, with the new logo
See also
In Spanish: Jack in the Box para niños