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Carnitas Return to Del Taco With Five Delicious New Creations, Plus Summer Beverages and Desserts Tied to America's 250th Birthday

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Jack in the Box (NASDAQ:JACK)-owned Del Taco has brought back slow-cooked Pork Carnitas as a limited-time summer feature, adding five new carnitas items across tacos, burritos, fries, nachos and breakfast.

The lineup also reintroduces Independence Poppers beverages and Funnel Cake Fries priced at $2.50, tied to America's 250th birthday.

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News Market Reaction – JACK

+1.49%
39 alerts
+1.49% Session close to close
-7.4% Trough in 5 hr 51 min
$232.51M Market Cap
1.0x Rel. Volume

In the Jun 23 session, JACK gained 1.49%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -7.4% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 39 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement expands Del Taco’s carnitas platform with five new items and seasonal desserts, re...
Analysis

This announcement expands Del Taco’s carnitas platform with five new items and seasonal desserts, reinforcing JACK’s LTO-driven traffic strategy. Prior promotions have not guaranteed supportive price action, and high short interest adds volatility risk to execution outcomes.

Key Figures

New carnitas items: 5 new menu items Funnel Cake Fries price: $2.50 Weekly guests: more than three million guests +5 more
8 metrics
New carnitas items 5 new menu items Summer 2026 Del Taco carnitas lineup
Funnel Cake Fries price $2.50 Limited-time seasonal dessert at Del Taco
Weekly guests more than three million guests Del Taco guest traffic each week
Restaurant count nearly 600 restaurants Del Taco footprint across the U.S.
States served 17 states Geographic reach of Del Taco locations
Founding year 1964 Year Del Taco was founded
National ranking second-largest Mexican quick service restaurant Del Taco position by unit count
America’s birthday 250th birthday Theme for Independence Poppers beverage lineup

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 16 (Positive)
Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Jun 16 Brand collaboration drop Positive -2.2% Second drop of 75th anniversary streetwear collaboration with The Hundreds launched.
Jun 15 Securitized financing Neutral -3.4% Priced $500M fixed-rate senior secured notes to refinance existing securitized debt.
Jun 08 Debt reduction plan Positive +1.0% Detailed 2026 debt reduction and planned refinancing to optimize capital structure.
May 28 Del Taco value menu Positive -1.9% Nationwide launch of Del Taco value menu with 10+ items starting at $1.
May 26 LTO meal collaboration Positive -5.7% Limited-time Hot Ones Munchie Meal and summer promotions tied to 75th anniversary.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent JACK and Del Taco promotions and financing news have often coincided with modest to sharp share declines, even when the news itself appeared operationally positive.

Key Terms

quick service restaurant, popping boba
2 terms
quick service restaurant financial
"Del Taco, the nation’s second-largest Mexican quick service restaurant*, has brought back"
A quick service restaurant is a food outlet that sells standardized meals fast, typically through counter service, drive‑thru or takeout with little or no table service, often operating under franchise systems. Investors care because these businesses rely on high customer volume and efficient operations: like a convenience store for meals, small shifts in traffic, prices or ingredient costs can quickly change profits, while steady sales and franchise royalties can produce predictable cash flow.
popping boba technical
"limited-time beverage collection featuring strawberry fruit-flavored popping boba pearls and blue raspberry"
Popping boba are small, gel-like spheres filled with fruit juice that burst when bitten, used to add flavor and texture to drinks and desserts—think of them as the caviar of bubble tea. Investors care because rising consumer demand or trends toward premium, Instagram-friendly beverages can boost sales and margins for food and drink companies, affect ingredient suppliers, and raise manufacturing, quality-control and regulatory considerations.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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LAKE FOREST, Calif., June 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Del Taco, the nation’s second-largest Mexican quick service restaurant*, has brought back slow-cooked Pork Carnitas, one of its most requested proteins, and expanded the lineup with more ways than ever to enjoy it. Available now for a limited time, carnitas return as the centerpiece of a summer lineup that also features the return of festive Independence Poppers beverages and fan-favorite dessert, Funnel Cake Fries.

“Our carnitas have consistently been one of our most anticipated offerings, and this year we're building on that excitement with new menu creations that showcase the versatility of this fan-favorite protein,” said Noah Chillingworth, Chief Marketing Officer at Del Taco. “From our first-ever Carnitas Big Fat Taco to new breakfast options and loaded menu builds, we're continuing to innovate around a guest favorite while bringing back the seasonal treats and nostalgic flavors that have become synonymous with summer at Del Taco.”

Del Taco's slow-cooked carnitas are braised for hours with authentic Mexican spices, topped with fresh ingredients and savory sauces, and loaded into eight menu items, including the popular Carnitas Street Taco, Loaded Fries and Carnitas Combo Burrito, and this year's lineup introduces five new menu items that bring the bold, craveable flavor for which Del Taco is known.

The complete summer carnitas lineup features:

  • Carnitas Street Taco
  • Carnitas Combo Burrito
  • Carnitas Loaded Fries
  • NEW Carnitas Big Fat Taco
  • NEW Carnitas Quesadilla
  • NEW Carnitas Queso Loaded Nachos
  • NEW Carnitas Breakfast Big Fat Taco
  • NEW Carnitas Breakfast Burrito

To celebrate America's 250th birthday, Del Taco is bringing back Independence Poppers, a limited-time beverage collection featuring strawberry fruit-flavored popping boba pearls and blue raspberry syrup. The refreshing summer lineup is available in Minute Maid® Zero Sugar Lemonade, Sprite® or hand-blended into a creamy vanilla shake.

In addition, the seasonal favorite Funnel Cake Fries return to Del Taco for just $2.50. Inspired by the classic fair-food, these sweet fries are fried to crispy, golden perfection and then dusted with powdered sugar to deliver the nostalgic, indulgent flavor perfect for this time of year.

For more information and to find the nearest Del Taco location, visit www.deltaco.com.

Carnitas

Del Taco Launches Slow-Cooked Carnitas Lineup and Other Festive Summer Flavors

*By number of units.

About Del Taco
Voted Best Fast Food Restaurant in USA Today's 2025 10 Best Reader's Choice Awards, Del Taco offers a unique variety of Mexican and American favorites, such as burritos and fries, prepared fresh in every restaurant's working kitchen with the value and convenience of a drive-thru. Del Taco's menu items taste better because they are made with real, quality ingredients like freshly grilled chicken and carne asada steak, fresh house-made guacamole, fresh house-grated cheddar cheese, slow-cooked beans made from scratch, and signature creamy Queso Blanco.

Founded in 1964, Del Taco now serves more than three million guests each week at nearly 600 restaurants across 17 states. Del Taco’s commitment to providing guests with real food at a real value for their money originates from cooking, chopping, shredding and grilling menu items from scratch. For more information about the Del Taco brand, and to find your nearest location, visit deltaco.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95039d85-5a94-4b50-911f-7a5b02e4e06c




Media Contact
Selena Lane
Powerhouse+Co.
selena@powerhouseandco.co

FAQ

What new carnitas menu items did Del Taco (NASDAQ:JACK) launch for summer 2026?

Del Taco introduced five new limited-time carnitas items for summer 2026. According to Del Taco, these are the Carnitas Big Fat Taco, Carnitas Quesadilla, Carnitas Queso Loaded Nachos, Carnitas Breakfast Big Fat Taco, and Carnitas Breakfast Burrito, expanding its slow-cooked carnitas lineup.

How does Del Taco describe its slow-cooked carnitas in the 2026 summer menu?

Del Taco describes its slow-cooked carnitas as braised for hours with authentic Mexican spices. According to Del Taco, the pork is topped with fresh ingredients and savory sauces, then featured across tacos, burritos, loaded fries, nachos and breakfast items during the limited-time summer offering.

What are Del Taco Independence Poppers drinks for America’s 250th birthday in 2026?

Independence Poppers are limited-time drinks created to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. According to Del Taco, they feature strawberry fruit-flavored popping boba pearls and blue raspberry syrup, served in Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade, Sprite, or hand-blended into a creamy vanilla shake for summer.

How much do Del Taco Funnel Cake Fries cost in the 2026 summer promotion?

Funnel Cake Fries are priced at $2.50 during Del Taco’s 2026 summer promotion. According to Del Taco, these fair-inspired fries are fried to crispy, golden perfection and dusted with powdered sugar, offering a nostalgic, indulgent dessert option alongside the seasonal carnitas and beverage lineup.

Which existing carnitas favorites returned to Del Taco menus in 2026?

Several established carnitas favorites returned to Del Taco menus for 2026. According to Del Taco, the limited-time lineup again includes the Carnitas Street Taco, Carnitas Combo Burrito, and Carnitas Loaded Fries, now joined by five new carnitas creations across lunch, dinner, and breakfast occasions.

How can customers find Del Taco locations offering the 2026 carnitas lineup?

Customers can find locations offering the carnitas lineup by visiting Del Taco’s website. According to Del Taco, guests can use deltaco.com to locate nearby restaurants, where the limited-time slow-cooked carnitas items, Independence Poppers beverages, and $2.50 Funnel Cake Fries are available while supplies last.