# Checkers & Rally’s Drive-In Restaurants

> Checkers & Rally’s is a Tampa-based quick-service restaurant company operating one menu under two regional names. Its more than 700 restaurants lean into drive-thru convenience, aggressively seasoned comfort food and value pricing, while a franchise-heavy model, a smaller 570-square-foot prototype, grocery licensing and restaurant technology give the nearly four-decade-old chain several ways to grow beyond the classic double-lane box.

- **Founded:** 1985
- **Headquarters:** Tampa, United States
- **Founders:** Jim Mattei (Founder, Checkers), Jim Patterson (Founder, Rally’s)
- **Team size:** Approximately 6,600 in the supplied company record; LinkedIn lists 5,001-10,000 employees, while the incoming CEO referred to more than 4,700 company team members in 2024.
- **Products:** Drive-thru and walk-up restaurants, Burgers and sandwiches, Famous Seasoned Fries and sides, Chicken, wings and tenders, Value meals and limited-time offers
- **Notable:** Named #1 Most Craveable Fries by Restaurant Business in 2018 and 2020, with the company also citing a 2017 win., Recognized as Best Drive-Thru in America and as a Best Franchise Deal by QSR Magazine., Received a 2022 MURTEC Breakthrough Award for restaurant technology innovation.

## Products & services

- **Drive-thru and walk-up restaurants** — Quick-service restaurants operating as Checkers or Rally’s with the same menu and supply system, centered on drive-thru and carryout service.
- **Burgers and sandwiches** — Core items include the Big Buford, Baconzilla, Classic Burger, chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches and hot dogs.
- **Famous Seasoned Fries and sides** — The chain’s signature seasoned fries anchor a side menu that also includes loaded fries, chicken bites and rotating snacks.
- **Chicken, wings and tenders** — Classic wings, fry-seasoned tenders, chicken bites and chicken sandwiches extend the menu beyond burgers.
- **Value meals and limited-time offers** — Bundled meals, 2-for offers and rotating low-price platforms target budget-conscious diners; the July 2026 offer was a $4 meal in most markets and $5 in select markets.
- **Rewards, mobile ordering and delivery** — A rewards program, mobile app, order-ahead service and third-party delivery add digital ordering and retention channels.
- **Restaurant franchises** — Single- and multi-unit franchise opportunities with multiple building formats, training, site selection and operating support.
- **Licensed frozen foods** — Retail products include branded frozen seasoned fries and sides through Lamb Weston and chicken bites through John Soules Foods.

## Achievements

- Named #1 Most Craveable Fries by Restaurant Business in 2018 and 2020, with the company also citing a 2017 win.
- Recognized as Best Drive-Thru in America and as a Best Franchise Deal by QSR Magazine.
- Received a 2022 MURTEC Breakthrough Award for restaurant technology innovation.
- Named a Top Food and Beverage Franchise by Franchise Business Review.
- Received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Hot! Again award.
- Consistently appeared in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, according to company materials.
- Built a system of more than 700 restaurants under two regional brand names.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Rolled out a $4 Unbeatable Meal Deal in most markets, a $5 version in select markets, plus a Loaded Tender Wrap, returning Super Loaded Buford and Cheesy Potato Bites.
- **2026-07** — Published a National Fry Audit conducted with The Harris Poll as a French Fry Day campaign.
- **2026-05** — Introduced a $3 Double Sandwich lineup focused on value.
- **2026-03** — Launched flatbread sandwich combos starting at $5 and continued new restaurant openings in western markets.
- **2025-12** — Opened the chain’s first Massachusetts restaurant and expanded nontraditional concessions, including a second Kia Center location.
- **2025-07** — Partnered with rapper GloRilla on a $4 meal collaboration.
- **2025-04** — Launched the This Eats Different brand platform and presented a 570-square-foot prototype with a single-drive-thru option.
- **2025-03** — Expanded its Lamb Weston retail partnership with four additional frozen side dishes.

## Links

- Website: https://checkersandrallys.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/checkers-%26-rally%E2%80%99s-drive-in-restaurants/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/CheckersRallys
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheckersRallys
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/checkersrallys/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkersandrallys/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@checkersrallys

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-13