Latest news with #JackieSecor
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taco John's hires GoTo Foods vet as COO
This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Taco John's appointed Jackie Secor as chief operating officer, the company said in a Monday press release. Secor, who has over 25 years of industry experience, will help accelerate the brand's growth, boost franchisee success and continue to streamline operations systemwide. Since the company hired Heather Neary as CEO last year, the chain has accelerated expansion with single- and multi-unit developments in new and existing markets. In March, Taco John's unveiled a Path to Ownership and optimized business model to streamline franchisee development and create more sustainable long-term growth. Secor is well positioned to support Taco John's franchisee growth. The bulk of her career has been spent at GoTo Foods, focusing on various aspects of operations. Her most recent position for the company was senior vice president of operations and training, a role she held for over a year, according to her LinkedIn profile. She originally began her career as a shift manager at Auntie Anne's. Her strengths include aligning 'strategy with data and analytics to streamline operations and profitability,' according to a press release. 'My career started on the front line, and that perspective continues to shape how I lead. I believe in structured collaboration, leveraging data, empowering teams, and driving consistency across the system,' Secor said. Secor will oversee restaurant operations, technology and training in addition to cross-functional collaboration with departments like supply chain, marketing and development. She will be particularly focused on excellence in operations, optimizing performance and ensuring franchisees receive best-in-class support. Secor said her success in past roles included strong partnership with franchisees, and she will lean into Taco John's people-first culture to boost average unit volumes for existing franchisees and expand into new markets. The chain has also been looking into technology to boost operations. Last year, it rolled out drive-thru voice automation through a pilot with Presto. It also has been working with franchisees to determine what technology would help improve operations. Taco John's has been entering new markets, opening its first Boston location in April that will set itself up for further expansion along the East Coast. The location, owned by Reliance Hospitality Group, is part of a previously signed agreement for 22 units in Boston and Connecticut. Recommended Reading How Taco John's CEO is developing a people-first culture Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taco John's names Jackie Secor as new COO
US-based Mexican quick-service restaurant Taco John's has announced the appointment of Jackie Secor as its new chief operating officer (COO). With more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Secor's expertise is expected to drive strategic initiatives and streamline operations across the board. Secor has risen from a job as shift manager at Auntie Anne's to senior vice-president of operations and training at GoTo Foods, equipping her with a perspective on brand management from the frontline. Her strategic approach is to align operations with data and analytics to enhance profitability, and she brings this focus on operational excellence and performance optimisation to Taco John's. In her new role, Secor will oversee restaurant operations, technology and training, while working closely with supply chain, marketing and development. She aims to ensure that franchisees receive unparalleled support and to foster the brand's people-first culture, which she believes is key to growing average unit volume (AUV) for existing franchisees and expanding the brand's reach. Taco John's president and CEO Heather Neary stated: "Jackie is the kind of leader who brings both strategic discipline and a deep respect for the people who make the business run every day.' "She's a champion for franchisees, a data-driven decision-maker and a true operator at heart. We're thrilled to welcome her to the executive team at such an exciting time in the brand's evolution." Her appointment coincides with Taco John's expansion plans, which include the introduction of the Path to Ownership framework and an optimised business model to bolster franchisee support and sustainable growth. Secor's ability to foster collaborative franchisee relationships will be crucial in reinforcing the brand's commitment to its people-first culture and in achieving its goal of increased AUV for current operators and strategic entry to new markets. Founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Taco John's operates and franchises 350 restaurants across 22 US states. "Taco John's names Jackie Secor as new COO" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Malaysian Reserve
10-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Taco John's Appoints Industry Veteran Jackie Secor to Chief Operating Officer
Seasoned Operations Leader Brings Over Two Decades of Experience Across Franchise and Corporate Leadership Appointment is Set to Drive Operational Excellence and Cross-Functional Alignment as Brand Scales Bolstered Executive Bench Supports Taco John's National Growth Strategy and Franchisee-First Focus ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn., June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Taco John's®, a leading Mexican quick-service restaurant, appoints longtime restaurant industry leader Jackie Secor as its new Chief Operating Officer. With over 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams and driving strategic initiatives, Secor will play a key role in accelerating the brand's growth, enhancing franchisee success, and continuing to streamline system-wide operations. Secor's impressive resume showcases her proven track record for bringing innovation and collaboration to drive change. Originally starting with Auntie Anne's as a shift manager, her unique experience of climbing the ranks to become Senior Vice President of Operations and Training at GoTo Foods gives her a keen eye for examining every brand through the eyes of the frontline. As an organized and oriented strategic thinker, Secor aligns strategy with data and analytics to streamline restaurant operations and profitability. 'Operations is in my blood and at the core of who I am,' shared Secor. 'My career started on the front line, and that perspective continues to shape how I lead. I believe in structured collaboration, leveraging data, empowering teams, and driving consistency across the system. Taco John's has such a strong foundation and a clear growth trajectory, and I'm excited to join the world-class team to elevate the brand and support our franchisees in the next phase of success.' In her role, Secor oversees restaurant operations, technology, and training, while collaborating cross-functionally with departments including supply chain, marketing, and development. Her focus will be on operational excellence, performance optimization, and ensuring that franchisees receive the best-in-class support that they deserve. Attributing her success in previous roles to the partnerships she built with franchisees, Secor plans to hone-in on Taco John's people-first culture to grow AUV for existing franchisees and expand the brand's footprint to reach new communities. 'Jackie is the kind of leader who brings both strategic discipline and a deep respect for the people who make the business run every day,' said Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John's. 'She's a champion for franchisees, a data-driven decision-maker, and a true operator at heart. We're thrilled to welcome her to the executive team at such an exciting time in the brand's evolution.' This appointment comes at a pivotal time as Taco John's accelerates its expansion through both single and multi-unit development. Recent initiatives such as the Path to Ownership structure and the brands optimized business model provide a strong foundation for franchisee support and sustainable long-term growth. Drawing on her track record of success through collaborative franchisee relationships, Secor plans to further strengthen Taco John's 'people first' culture. Her focus will center on increasing AUV for existing operators while strategically expanding the brand's presence into new more information about Taco John's franchise opportunities, please visit or contact Shannon Iverson at siverson@ About Taco John's®Founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Taco John's® has been delivering bigger. bolder. better. flavors for over 55 years. Today, Taco John's operates and franchises nearly 350 restaurants across 22 states, solidifying its place as one of the largest Mexican quick-service restaurant brands in the U.S. Famous for coining Taco Tuesday in 1989, Taco John's offers everyday value with its popular menu. Signature items like Potato Olés® showcase the bold, original flavors that help fans Olé The Day. With generous portions and made-to-order dishes crafted from fresh, high-quality ingredients, Taco John's sets the standard for crave-worthy Mexican fare. Taco John's continues to be a standout in the industry, highlighted by recent accolades including ranking No. 147 spot on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2025 'Franchise 500' ranking and the No. 158 on Franchise Times 2024, 'Franchise 400' ranking. For more information, visit and follow Taco John's on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taco John's Appoints Industry Veteran Jackie Secor to Chief Operating Officer
Seasoned Operations Leader Brings Over Two Decades of Experience Across Franchise and Corporate Leadership Appointment is Set to Drive Operational Excellence and Cross-Functional Alignment as Brand Scales Bolstered Executive Bench Supports Taco John's National Growth Strategy and Franchisee-First Focus ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn., June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Taco John's®, a leading Mexican quick-service restaurant, appoints longtime restaurant industry leader Jackie Secor as its new Chief Operating Officer. With over 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams and driving strategic initiatives, Secor will play a key role in accelerating the brand's growth, enhancing franchisee success, and continuing to streamline system-wide operations. Secor's impressive resume showcases her proven track record for bringing innovation and collaboration to drive change. Originally starting with Auntie Anne's as a shift manager, her unique experience of climbing the ranks to become Senior Vice President of Operations and Training at GoTo Foods gives her a keen eye for examining every brand through the eyes of the frontline. As an organized and oriented strategic thinker, Secor aligns strategy with data and analytics to streamline restaurant operations and profitability. "Operations is in my blood and at the core of who I am," shared Secor. "My career started on the front line, and that perspective continues to shape how I lead. I believe in structured collaboration, leveraging data, empowering teams, and driving consistency across the system. Taco John's has such a strong foundation and a clear growth trajectory, and I'm excited to join the world-class team to elevate the brand and support our franchisees in the next phase of success." In her role, Secor oversees restaurant operations, technology, and training, while collaborating cross-functionally with departments including supply chain, marketing, and development. Her focus will be on operational excellence, performance optimization, and ensuring that franchisees receive the best-in-class support that they deserve. Attributing her success in previous roles to the partnerships she built with franchisees, Secor plans to hone-in on Taco John's people-first culture to grow AUV for existing franchisees and expand the brand's footprint to reach new communities. "Jackie is the kind of leader who brings both strategic discipline and a deep respect for the people who make the business run every day," said Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John's. "She's a champion for franchisees, a data-driven decision-maker, and a true operator at heart. We're thrilled to welcome her to the executive team at such an exciting time in the brand's evolution." This appointment comes at a pivotal time as Taco John's accelerates its expansion through both single and multi-unit development. Recent initiatives such as the Path to Ownership structure and the brands optimized business model provide a strong foundation for franchisee support and sustainable long-term growth. Drawing on her track record of success through collaborative franchisee relationships, Secor plans to further strengthen Taco John's "people first" culture. Her focus will center on increasing AUV for existing operators while strategically expanding the brand's presence into new more information about Taco John's franchise opportunities, please visit or contact Shannon Iverson at siverson@ About Taco John's®Founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Taco John's® has been delivering bigger. bolder. better. flavors for over 55 years. Today, Taco John's operates and franchises nearly 350 restaurants across 22 states, solidifying its place as one of the largest Mexican quick-service restaurant brands in the U.S. Famous for coining Taco Tuesday in 1989, Taco John's offers everyday value with its popular menu. Signature items like Potato Olés® showcase the bold, original flavors that help fans Olé The Day. With generous portions and made-to-order dishes crafted from fresh, high-quality ingredients, Taco John's sets the standard for crave-worthy Mexican fare. Taco John's continues to be a standout in the industry, highlighted by recent accolades including ranking No. 147 spot on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2025 "Franchise 500" ranking and the No. 158 on Franchise Times 2024, "Franchise 400" ranking. For more information, visit and follow Taco John's on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Taco John's®
