Franchising Rollout For R Taco

Sports bar chain Buffalo Wild Wings is betting big on the fast-casual dining segment. The Minneapolis-based company is hoping to expand its street-style taco concept R Taco, formerly Rusty Taco, through franchising to at least 10 new markets, including Nashville. Buffalo Wild Wings became a majority investor in the taco concept in 2014, the same year it became a minority investor in Los Angeles-based PizzaRev. Currently R Taco has 13 company-owned and franchised locations serving street-style tacos in Dallas, Denver, Omaha, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, with plans to nearly double in number over the next six months. Franchises are being eyed for Indianapolis; Cleveland and Cincinnati; Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky; Nashville; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Kansas City and St. Louis. R Taco plans to expand its corporate-owned restaurant locations as well.