New Initiative and Owners For Checkers Drive-In

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants is making its attempt to surpass the leading burger chains — McDonald’s and Burger King.

Checkers new owners — the third set of hands in 10 years’ time — is looking to new ideas to increase sales and add more restaurants to the company’s portfolio.

Company executives are looking to expand its menu as well as make it simple for customers to order their food and get it. They want to create a new delivery model and offer mobile ordering for people to order ahead.

Checkers Chief Development Officer said Amazon is making an impact on the retail sector, and delivery is going to change the way the fast-food sector operates.

Checkers has nearly 60 locations in the Tampa areas, with a plethora of number of restaurants in the state. However, it’s still rather little in comparison to the other popular fast-food burger joints. Durham feels this will be a competitive advantage when the company works to enact the new delivery practices.

Private investment firm Oak Hill Capital Partners bought the $850-plus unit Checkers and Rally’s in March for $525 million.

Shaji Joseph is the franchisee owner and is set to open his tenth store before the close of 2017. He doesn’t believe Oak Hill will make a lot of changes if any.

Checkers’ new owners are looking to provide customers with choices in where to go, looking to beat its previous record of 37 new locations in a single year. That record was set over 20 years ago.

The franchise has opened 33 stores to date, with plans to open an additional 30 before 2017 ends. Checkers has unveiled its new building design — Model 4.0 — that executives hope captures the attention of franchisees since it’s cheaper and can be quickly built.