Whataburger buys out largest franchisee
September 29, 2008
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Family-owned Whataburger has announced the acquisition of its largest franchisee, Barrand Inc., a Red Oak, Texas-based company with 47 Whataburger restaurants in Northeast Texas and the Florida Panhandle.
These restaurants were operated by Barrand Inc.'s owner and longtime Whataburger franchisee Randal Brown. Whataburger vice president of franchise development Clifton Rutledge will oversee the newly acquired restaurants, 24 in Northeast Texas and 23 in the Florida Panhandle, and work with approximately 1,700 Barrand Inc. team members.
Brown became a Whataburger franchisee in 1983, operating his first location in Desoto, Texas.
Whataburger will now own 591 of 712 Whataburger restaurants, including 84 percent of all its locations in Florida.
