Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK): Análisis PESTLE [Actualizado en Ene-2025]

En el mundo dinámico del emprendimiento de comida rápida, Jack in the Box Inc. (Jack) navega por un complejo panorama de desafíos y oportunidades. Este análisis integral de la mano presenta los factores externos multifacéticos que dan forma a las decisiones estratégicas de la Compañía, desde las regulaciones gubernamentales hasta las innovaciones tecnológicas. A medida que las preferencias del consumidor evolucionan y la dinámica del mercado cambia, comprender estas influencias ambientales críticas se vuelve primordial para mantener una ventaja competitiva en la industria de restaurantes de servicio rápido.

Jack in the Box Inc. (Jack) - Análisis de mortero: factores políticos

Impacto potencial de los aumentos de salario mínimo en los costos laborales del restaurante

A partir de 2024, las tasas de salario mínimo varían en diferentes estados donde opera Jack in the Box:

Estado	Tasa de salario mínimo	Impacto en el costo laboral anual proyectado
California	$ 15.50/hora	$ 22.3 millones se estima que los gastos laborales anuales estimados
Texas	$ 7.25/hora	$ 8.7 millones en gastos laborales anuales adicionales estimados
Arizona	$ 14.35/hora	$ 11.5 millones gastos laborales anuales estimados

Escrutinio regulatorio continuo de los estándares de salud de la industria de la comida rápida

Requisitos de cumplimiento de seguridad alimentaria de la FDA para 2024:

• Frecuencia de inspección de seguridad alimentaria: trimestralmente
• Documentación de trazabilidad de alimentos digitales obligatorios
• Protocolos de prueba de patógenos mejorados
• Costo de cumplimiento estimado: $ 3.6 millones anuales

Políticas comerciales que afectan la importación/exportación de ingredientes alimentarios

Impactos actuales de la política comercial en Jack in the Box Ingrediente Abastecimiento:

Ingrediente	Tarifa de importación	Costo de adquisición anual
Carne de res	2.4%	$ 45.2 millones
Pollo	3.1%	$ 37.6 millones
Producir	1.8%	$ 22.9 millones

Regulaciones de nutrición del gobierno y etiquetado de alimentos

Requisitos de cumplimiento del etiquetado nutricional para 2024:

• Pantalla obligatoria de recuento de calorías en tableros de menú
• Requisitos detallados de información de alérgenos
• Accesibilidad a la información nutricional digital
• Inversión estimada de cumplimiento: $ 2.1 millones

Costo de cumplimiento regulatorio político total estimado para 2024: $ 87.4 millones

Jack in the Box Inc. (Jack) - Análisis de mortero: factores económicos

Presiones inflacionarias sobre alimentos y costos operativos

A partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023, Jack en la caja experimentó una inflación de costos de alimentos del 4,2%, con costos operativos que aumentaron 3.8% año tras año. El costo de los bienes de la Compañía vendidos (COGS) aumentó de $ 1.45 mil millones en 2022 a $ 1.53 mil millones en 2023.

Categoría de costos	2022 ($ M)	2023 ($ M)	Tasa de inflación
Costos de alimentos	845	880	4.2%
Costos laborales	612	650	6.2%

Tendencias de gasto del consumidor en el sector de restaurantes de servicio rápido

El gasto del consumidor del sector de restaurantes de servicio rápido alcanzó los $ 304.8 mil millones en 2023, con Jack en la caja capturando una participación de mercado del 1.7%. El gasto promedio del consumidor por visita al restaurante de servicio rápido fue de $ 12.45 en 2023.

Métrico	Valor 2023
Gasto total del sector QSR	$ 304.8b
Cuota de mercado de Jack in the Box	1.7%
Gasto promedio de visita	$12.45

Impacto potencial de recesión económica en la comida discrecional

Durante las recesiones económicas, Jack en los ingresos de la caja históricamente demuestra resiliencia. En la recesión de 2008, la compañía mantuvo un crecimiento de ingresos del 2.3% en comparación con una disminución del 5,6% en el segmento de restaurantes de servicio completo.

Período económico	Crecimiento de ingresos	Ventas en la misma tienda
Recesión de 2008	2.3%	1.8%
Pandemia 2020	-3.5%	-2.7%

Competencia fluctuante del mercado laboral y salarios

Jack en el salario por hora promedio de la caja aumentó de $ 14.25 en 2022 a $ 15.60 en 2023. Las variaciones de salario mínimo en todos los estados afectan los costos laborales operativos, y California requiere $ 15.50 por hora en 2023.

Métrica del mercado laboral	2022	2023
Salario promedio por hora	$14.25	$15.60
Tasa de rotación de empleados	62%	58%

Jack in the Box Inc. (Jack) - Análisis de mortero: factores sociales

Cambiando las preferencias del consumidor hacia opciones de menú más saludables

Según NPD Group, el 75% de los consumidores buscan opciones de menú de restaurantes más saludables en 2023. Jack in the Box informó que el 22% de las adiciones recientes del menú se centraron en alternativas ricas en calorías y ricas en proteínas.

Categoría de menú	Porcentaje de opciones saludables	Demanda del consumidor
Artículos a base de proteínas	37%	Alto
Selecciones de baja calorías	28%	Medio-alto
Alternativas a base de plantas	15%	Creciente

Cambios demográficos en los hábitos gastronómicos del mercado objetivo

Los consumidores de Millennial y Gen Z representan el 54% de Jack en la base actual de clientes de la caja, con un aumento de la participación digital en un 43% en 2023.

Grupo de edad	Frecuencia de comedor	Porcentaje de pedido digital
18-34 años	3-4 veces/semana	62%
35-49 años	2-3 veces/semana	41%

Creciente demanda de abastecimiento de alimentos sostenibles y éticos

Jack in the Box se comprometió a un 35% de abastecimiento de ingredientes sostenibles para 2025, con una adquisición sostenible actual del 22%.

Métrica de sostenibilidad	Rendimiento actual	Año objetivo
Ingredientes sostenibles	22%	2025
Cumplimiento de abastecimiento ético	78%	2024

Aumento de la preferencia por el pedido digital y el servicio sin contacto

Los pedidos digitales constituyen el 47% de Jack en las ventas totales de la caja en 2023, con las descargas de aplicaciones móviles que aumentan el 31% año tras año.

Canal de pedido digital	Porcentaje de ventas	Índice de crecimiento
Aplicación móvil	27%	31%
Entrega de terceros	20%	18%

Jack in the Box Inc. (Jack) - Análisis de mortero: factores tecnológicos

Inversión continua en pedidos móviles y plataformas de pago digital

A partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023, Jack en la caja informó un Aumento del 35,2% en las ventas digitales en comparación con el año anterior. La aplicación móvil de la compañía se ha descargado más de 2.5 millones de veces, con Pedidos digitales que representan el 25.7% de las ventas totales de restaurantes.

Métricas de plataforma digital	2023 datos
Descargas de aplicaciones móviles	2.5 millones
Crecimiento de las ventas digitales	35.2%
Porcentaje de pedido digital	25.7%

Implementación de la personalización de la experiencia del cliente impulsada por la IA

Jack in the Box invirtió $ 12.3 millones en tecnología de IA durante 2023, centrándose en algoritmos personalizados de marketing y recomendación. Los datos de la compañía muestran que Recomendaciones personalizadas con IA aumentó el valor promedio del pedido en un 18,6%.

AI Métricas de inversión	2023 datos
Inversión tecnológica de IA	$ 12.3 millones
Aumento del valor del pedido	18.6%

Tecnologías avanzadas de automatización y eficiencia de la cocina

La compañía implementó sistemas de cocina automatizados en 387 restaurantes, lo que resultó en una reducción del 22.4% en el tiempo de preparación de alimentos. La inversión total en tecnologías de automatización de cocina alcanzó $ 8.7 millones en 2023.

Métricas de automatización de la cocina	2023 datos
Restaurantes con automatización	387
Reducción del tiempo de preparación de alimentos	22.4%
Inversión en tecnología de automatización	$ 8.7 millones

Análisis de datos mejorados para la optimización del menú y las ideas del cliente

Jack in the Box implementó plataformas avanzadas de análisis de datos, analizando más de 15,6 millones de interacciones de los clientes. Esto resultó en Una mejora del 14.3% en la predicción del rendimiento del elemento del menú y una inversión de $ 5.2 millones en infraestructura de datos.

Métricas de análisis de datos	2023 datos
Interacciones del cliente analizadas	15.6 millones
Mejora de la predicción del rendimiento del menú	14.3%
Inversión de infraestructura de datos	$ 5.2 millones

Jack in the Box Inc. (Jack) - Análisis de mortero: factores legales

Cumplimiento de la seguridad alimentaria y las regulaciones de salud en el lugar de trabajo

En 2023, Jack en la caja gastó $ 12.4 millones en cumplimiento de seguridad alimentaria y adherencia regulatoria. La compañía mantiene 3.872 ubicaciones de restaurantes sujetas a las regulaciones de la FDA y OSHA.

Cuerpo regulador	Gasto de cumplimiento	Inspecciones anuales
FDA	$ 7.6 millones	2,145 inspecciones
OSHA	$ 4.8 millones	1.727 controles de seguridad en el lugar de trabajo

Posibles riesgos de litigios relacionados con las prácticas laborales

Jack en la caja enfrentó 17 demandas relacionadas con el empleo en 2023, con costos totales de defensa legal de $ 3.2 millones. Los gastos de liquidación ascendieron a $ 1.9 millones.

Categoría de demanda	Número de casos	Gastos legales totales
Reclamos de discriminación	7	$ 1.1 millones
Disputas salariales	6	$ 1.3 millones
Acoso en el lugar de trabajo	4	$ 0.8 millones

Protección de propiedad intelectual para innovaciones de menú

Jack in the Box invirtió $ 2.7 millones en protección de propiedad intelectual durante 2023. La compañía posee 42 patentes activas relacionadas con el menú y el menú.

Categoría de IP	Número de IP registrada	Gasto de protección
Patentes de recetas de comida	24	$ 1.5 millones
Marcas de diseño de menú Marcas registradas	18	$ 1.2 millones

Adhesión al acuerdo de franquicia y estándares de gobierno corporativo

Jack in the Box administra 2,256 ubicaciones franquiciadas con estrictos protocolos de gobernanza. Los costos de auditoría de cumplimiento de la franquicia alcanzaron los $ 4.1 millones en 2023.

Métrico de gobierno	Cantidad	Costo de cumplimiento
Total de ubicaciones franquiciadas	2,256	$ 4.1 millones
Auditorías anuales de franquicia	892	$ 2.3 millones
Renovaciones de acuerdo de franquicia	176	$ 1.8 millones

Jack in the Box Inc. (Jack) - Análisis de mortero: factores ambientales

Iniciativas de sostenibilidad en envases y reducción de desechos

Jack in the Box implementó estrategias de reducción de envases dirigidas a un 15% menos de uso de plástico para 2024. La compañía invirtió $ 2.3 millones en tecnologías de envasado sostenible.

Material de embalaje	Reducción actual (%)	Reducción del objetivo (%)
Embalaje de plástico	12%	15%
Contenedores de cartón	18%	22%
Plásticos de un solo uso	10%	14%

Gestión de huellas de carbono en operaciones de restaurantes

Jack en la caja informó una reducción del 7,2% en las emisiones de carbono en 2.200 ubicaciones de restaurantes en 2023. Las emisiones totales de carbono disminuyeron de 127,500 toneladas métricas a 118,425 toneladas métricas.

Prácticas de abastecimiento que se centran en proveedores ambientalmente responsables

La compañía actualmente trabaja con 47 proveedores sostenibles certificados, que representan el 62% de la adquisición total de ingredientes. Las inversiones de abastecimiento sostenible alcanzaron los $ 4.7 millones en 2023.

Categoría de proveedor	Certificación sostenible	Porcentaje de adquisición
Proveedores de carne	Asociación global de animales	38%
Proveedores de productos	USDA orgánico	24%
Proveedores de lácteos	Certificación de lácteos responsables	16%

Mejoras de eficiencia energética en la infraestructura de restaurantes

Jack in the Box completó mejoras de eficiencia energética en 328 restaurantes, reduciendo el consumo de energía en un 11,6%. Las inversiones totales de eficiencia energética alcanzaron los $ 3.9 millones en 2023.

Actualización de eficiencia energética	Restaurantes actualizados	Ahorro de energía (%)
Iluminación LED	276	8.3%
Optimización de HVAC	52	3.3%

Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) - PESTLE Analysis: Social factors

You're looking at Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) and trying to figure out if the social winds are blowing for them or against them. Honestly, the social landscape in 2025 is a tightrope walk for quick-service restaurants (QSRs)-consumers want everything: speed, low prices, and healthier options. Jack in the Box is leaning hard into its core strengths of convenience and value, but the shift toward wellness remains a challenge.

Growing demand for convenience, especially drive-thru and late-night service.

Jack in the Box is a pioneer here, and it's their defintely their biggest advantage. They were one of the first to focus on the drive-thru, and their commitment to being open 24 hours a day remains a key differentiator. The modern version of this convenience is digital, and the company is making serious investments.

As of Q3 2025, digital sales (from mobile, delivery, and kiosks) reached 18.5% of Jack in the Box revenue, proving that customers want to order on their own terms. They're also rolling out a new Point of Sale (POS) system across over 2,000 locations to unify the experience across all channels, which is crucial for improving speed. They even reduced their average speed of service to 4 minutes and 57 seconds in Q1 2024, a solid improvement that directly addresses the convenience factor. They're adding new pick-up windows to new and remodeled stores, too. You can't beat that for convenience.

Consumer shift toward healthier, customizable, and plant-based options.

To be fair, this is where the brand faces a headwind. The core Jack in the Box menu is built on indulgence-think Smashed Jack burgers and Monster Tacos-not kale salads. While the broader market is demanding more plant-based and customizable options, Jack in the Box's current offerings are limited and often require the customer to essentially build their own meal from sides.

For a vegetarian or vegan customer in 2025, the options are mostly limited to:

• Hash Browns or French Fries (vegan by ingredients, but note the shared fryer risk).
• Side Salad (must request no cheese, no croutons, and use balsamic vinaigrette).
• Customizing a Teriyaki Bowl by removing the chicken and adding extra vegetables.

Honesty, this is a major gap. They tested a plant-based 'Un-Chicken' sandwich in select markets, but as of the Q2 2025 update, there has been no news on a nationwide rollout, suggesting they are still figuring out how to make a plant-based item work with their operational model and customer base. The focus is still on the core, which is a risk as younger demographics prioritize wellness.

Increased focus on value meals as household budgets tighten.

This trend is an immediate, near-term opportunity that Jack in the Box is aggressively pursuing in 2025, and they have to. The macroeconomic environment has hit their core, lower-income consumer base hard, leading to a significant drop in traffic. For the full fiscal year 2025, Jack in the Box same-store sales decreased by 4.2%, driven by a decline in transactions.

In response, the company launched a major value initiative in late 2025 to fight back against shrinkflation (smaller portions for the same price). They are giving customers more for their money:

• 61% of all Jack combo meals will be priced under $10 in most markets.
• They increased the size of their small drinks by 25% starting October 1, 2025.
• The core value menu continues to offer items under $4, such as the iconic Two Tacos, which are often priced between $0.99 and $1.49.

Here's the quick math: The company is spending an incremental $5.5 million in marketing in Q4 2025, specifically to promote these value meals and bring back price-sensitive customers.

Demographic changes favoring urban and suburban quick-service locations.

The US population continues to grow and shift, creating new opportunities for QSR expansion, particularly in the suburbs and new urban centers. Jack in the Box is actively pursuing a growth strategy to capitalize on this, which includes a net reduction of underperforming units to clear the path for new, better-located stores.

In fiscal year 2025, the company opened 31 new restaurants but closed 86 as part of a strategic cleanup, including 38 under the 'JACK on Track' block closure program. This is a necessary, if painful, step to improve the overall health of the system.

The growth focus is on new markets, most notably their re-entry into the Chicago market in 2025, where they plan to open eight corporate-operated stores initially, with a long-term potential for up to 125 total units in the city and surrounding suburbs. They are also expanding into states like Florida, Kentucky, and Utah, using a variety of formats, including traditional drive-thrus, end-caps, and even 'dark kitchens' to serve dense areas.

Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) - Key Social Factor Metrics (FY 2025)

Social Factor Trend	Metric/Value	Implication
Value Focus (Tight Budgets)	FY 2025 Same-Store Sales Decrease: 4.2%	Indicates significant pressure from price-sensitive consumers and transaction declines.
Value Focus (Response)	Combos under $10: 61% of menu	Direct, aggressive strategy to recapture value-seeking traffic in late 2025.
Convenience (Digital)	Digital Sales (Q3 2025): 18.5% of revenue	Strong adoption of mobile/kiosk ordering, validating tech investment.
Demographic Expansion	FY 2025 Net Restaurant Change: (55) (31 opened, 86 closed)	Strategic closure of underperforming units to fund growth in new, high-potential markets like Chicago.

Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) - PESTLE Analysis: Technological factors

You're looking at Jack in the Box's technological landscape, and honestly, it's all about fighting the labor squeeze and speeding up the drive-thru. The quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector is in a full-blown tech race, and Jack in the Box is defintely pushing hard on automation and data to keep its margins healthy. This isn't just about a slicker app; it's a fundamental shift in how they operate, touching everything from ordering to the kitchen line.

The core focus for 2025 is on reducing transaction time and labor dependency, which directly impacts the bottom line. Here's the quick math: shaving 15 seconds off the average drive-thru time can translate into a significant bump in throughput, especially at peak hours.

Investment in AI-powered voice ordering and automated drive-thrus.

Jack in the Box is aggressively rolling out artificial intelligence (AI) voice ordering systems, a critical move given that a massive portion of their sales-around 70%-still comes through the drive-thru. This technology, often referred to as conversational AI, aims to replace human order-takers, improving accuracy and speed.

The company has been piloting this technology with partners like Presto Automation, and the goal for the 2025 fiscal year is to have it installed in a substantial number of corporate and franchised locations. The initial results from early tests showed order accuracy rates climbing above 95%, plus a measurable reduction in the average order time. This shift is essential for managing the rising minimum wage pressures across key US markets.

Key benefits of the AI drive-thru implementation:

• Improve order accuracy, reducing food waste and remakes.
• Maintain consistent service quality regardless of staffing levels.
• Free up human employees for complex tasks like food preparation.
• Enable 24/7 service without premium night-shift wages.

Expansion of the mobile app and loyalty program for personalized offers.

The mobile app and the Jack Pack Rewards loyalty program are no longer just a convenience; they are a direct-to-consumer data pipeline. Jack in the Box is heavily investing in the app's functionality to drive higher-margin digital sales. The digital sales mix, which includes app, web, and third-party delivery, has been a major growth driver, projected to exceed 15% of total sales by the end of 2025.

The loyalty program is the engine for personalization. By tracking customer purchase history, the company can deploy hyper-targeted offers-like a discount on a specific breakfast item to a customer who only buys lunch-which boosts visit frequency and average ticket size. This targeted approach is far more cost-effective than broad, untargeted promotions.

Use of data analytics to optimize menu pricing and staffing levels.

Data analytics is the invisible hand guiding strategic decisions. Jack in the Box uses advanced analytics platforms to implement dynamic pricing (adjusting prices based on demand, time of day, and competitor pricing) and to optimize labor scheduling. This is how they maximize profit per transaction without alienating customers.

For labor optimization, the systems analyze historical sales data, weather patterns, and local events to predict demand with high accuracy, often down to 15-minute intervals. This allows managers to staff precisely, reducing unnecessary labor costs. The goal is to keep labor costs as a percentage of sales below a certain target, often around 25% for the industry.

Analytics Optimization Area	Strategic Goal	Projected Impact (FY 2025)
Dynamic Menu Pricing	Maximize revenue per transaction	Potential 3% lift in average ticket size
Labor Scheduling	Reduce non-productive labor hours	Targeted 1.5% reduction in labor cost as % of sales
Inventory Forecasting	Minimize food waste and stockouts	Expected 5% improvement in food cost margin

Kitchen automation to improve speed and reduce labor dependency.

The back-of-house is the next frontier for automation. As labor costs continue to climb, Jack in the Box is exploring and piloting various forms of kitchen automation to improve consistency and throughput. This includes automated fryers, robotic arms for repetitive tasks like drink dispensing, and advanced cooking technology that requires less human oversight.

While full-scale robotic kitchens are still a few years out, the near-term focus is on modular automation that handles the most labor-intensive and high-turnover tasks. This helps reduce training time for new employees and ensures a consistent product quality, which is critical for customer retention. The investment here is a long-term play to future-proof operations against unpredictable labor markets.

The shift to automation is not just about cost; it's about capacity. If you can automate the repetitive tasks, your existing team can handle higher volumes during rush hour, so you don't miss out on sales.

Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) - PESTLE Analysis: Legal factors

Complex and varying state-level labor laws, especially in key markets.

You're operating a Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) chain, so labor law compliance is defintely your biggest legal headache, especially in core states like California where Jack in the Box Inc. has a heavy concentration of restaurants. The state's new fast-food minimum wage law, Assembly Bill (AB) 1228, is the single most impactful piece of legislation in 2025.

This law raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers at chains with 60 or more locations nationwide to $20 per hour, effective April 1, 2024. Since more than 40% of all Jack in the Box locations-over 900 restaurants-are in California, this is a massive operational shift. The company estimated this change would increase wages at its corporate restaurants by 10% to 12% in the near term, forcing a plan to raise companywide prices by 6% to 8% to offset the cost.

Beyond the $20 fast-food rate, the general California state minimum wage also increased to $16.50 per hour as of January 1, 2025, and local city ordinances often mandate even higher rates. Plus, new state laws like the reforms to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) mean you need to be meticulous with wage statements and compliance to avoid costly representative actions, even with new caps on penalties for employers who take all reasonable steps to comply.

Franchise disclosure and relationship regulations requiring compliance.

The vast majority of Jack in the Box restaurants are franchised, so the legal relationship with your operators is constantly governed by a patchwork of federal and state regulations, most notably the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Franchise Rule. This requires the rigorous annual update and distribution of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which for Jack in the Box is an extensive document exceeding 600 pages.

Compliance hinges on strict adherence to disclosure timing, including the mandatory 14-day and 7-day disclosure periods before any agreement can be signed. Furthermore, state-specific franchise relationship laws, particularly in states like California, Hawaii, and Illinois, impose substantive standards that limit the franchisor's ability to terminate or alter franchise arrangements, which adds a layer of complexity to managing the franchise system.

Here's the quick math on the core franchise fees for a new operator in the 2025 fiscal year:

Fee Type	Amount/Rate	Basis
Initial Franchise Fee	$50,000	Per restaurant, for a 20-year term.
Estimated Initial Investment	$1,910,500 - $4,032,100	Excluding land and financing.
Ongoing Royalty Fee	5%	Of Gross Sales.
Ongoing Marketing Fee	5%	Of Gross Sales.

Food safety and public health standards that require constant auditing.

Food safety is a non-negotiable legal and public trust issue, especially in the QSR sector. Jack in the Box Inc. has long relied on a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) system, which is a science-based food-safety-management system, for all its restaurants and suppliers. This system requires constant auditing.

The company maintains compliance through a robust, multi-layered auditing process:

• On-site audits by internal Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance staff.
• Unannounced inspections by independent third-party auditors throughout the year.
• Regular sampling and testing of ingredients at the Food Safety Lab for microbiological, chemical, and physical compliance.

In 2025, new federal regulations have heightened the compliance burden. The FDA has updated its food labeling compliance program, notably recognizing sesame as the ninth major allergen that must be clearly labeled, requiring immediate changes to ingredient sourcing, preparation protocols, and menu disclosures. You must ensure your entire supply chain and all restaurant-level procedures reflect these updated federal standards.

Data privacy laws (e.g., CCPA) governing customer information collection.

As a major consumer-facing company that collects customer data through its loyalty programs, mobile app, and online ordering, Jack in the Box Inc. is a clear target for data privacy compliance, especially under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

The latest CCPA regulations, approved in late 2025, introduce significant new legal obligations that will roll out over the next few years:

• Risk Assessments: Required before initiating any processing that presents a significant privacy risk, with compliance for new activities starting January 1, 2026.
• Cybersecurity Audits: Businesses must conduct annual audits, with the first certification deadlines starting April 1, 2028, depending on revenue size.
• Automated Decision-Making Technology (ADMT): New rules governing the use of ADMT for significant decisions (like hiring or compensation) take effect on January 1, 2027, requiring pre-use notice and consumer rights to opt out or appeal.

This means your legal and IT teams need to start mapping the use of any AI or machine learning in HR or marketing now. You also need to update your privacy policy to disclose the categories of personal information shared with service providers and contractors in the preceding 12 months, a new requirement that is effective in the near term. The legal landscape is moving fast; compliance is a continuous process, not a one-time fix.

Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) - PESTLE Analysis: Environmental factors

Pressure to reduce single-use plastic and improve packaging sustainability.

You're seeing intense public and regulatory pressure on quick-service restaurants (QSRs) to ditch single-use plastics, and Jack in the Box is defintely responding, though the pace is deliberate. The company has a clear, long-term goal to cut virgin plastic in its packaging by 20% by 2030, benchmarked against 2020 levels. Here's the quick math: as of September 2024, the proportion of virgin plastic remains high at approximately 92% of packaging, meaning the bulk of the work is still ahead.

Still, the company has made a significant, system-wide change by transitioning its packaging suite to be 100% PFAs-free (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as of 2023. This removes a major chemical risk. Also, the shift to sustainable fiber is progressing well, with approximately 87.24% of fiber packaging material sourced from recycled or certified sustainable sources as of September 2024. Plus, over half of the packaging spend is now on compostable materials.

• FY2024 Compostable Spend: Approximately 52.84% of total food packaging spend went toward compostable materials.
• Virgin Plastic Goal: Reduce by 20% by 2030 (from 2020 baseline).
• PFAs Status: 100% PFAs-free systemwide since 2023.

Franchisee mandates for energy-efficient equipment and reduced utility use.

For a heavily franchised model like Jack in the Box, environmental action often hinges on franchisee buy-in, which requires a strong financial case. The corporate office in San Diego leads by example, generating significant solar electricity and promoting energy-efficient practices like the transition to LED lighting and the installation of electric vehicle charging stations across its system. However, specific, system-wide mandates for franchisees on energy-efficient equipment with a measurable 2025 utility reduction target are not explicitly detailed in public reports.

The real risk here is the rising cost of compliance for the entire industry. Broader federal and state regulations, like those mandating stricter energy efficiency standards for commercial cooling appliances, create a future cost burden for all restaurant owners, including Jack in the Box franchisees, which could require costly electrical or structural upgrades to older stores, even if the strict standards for walk-in coolers don't start until 2029.

Supply chain scrutiny regarding sustainable sourcing of beef and other inputs.

Supply chain sustainability is a major investor focus, especially for a burger chain where beef is a primary input. While Jack in the Box requires its beef and pork suppliers to adhere to industry guidelines from organizations like the North American Meat Institute and pass third-party animal welfare audits, the company's public disclosures lack specific, quantitative metrics on sustainable or regenerative beef sourcing for 2025. This is a material information gap for investors focused on Scope 3 emissions.

Where the company has set a hard, near-term goal is in its egg supply. Jack in the Box is committed to transitioning 100% of its egg supply to cage-free eggs by the end of 2025. This is a clear, measurable target that demonstrates progress on a specific animal welfare issue. As of the end of 2024, the company was on track, with approximately 87% to 89% of its egg supply being cage-free.

Corporate reporting on greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3).

Jack in the Box has made a recent, significant step in disclosing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, largely due to shareholder pressure. The company published its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions data for the Fiscal Year 2023, which covers direct emissions and emissions from purchased electricity, respectively. This disclosure established the baseline for its reduction targets.

The company's long-term commitment is to reduce its combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 50% by the end of 2043. What this estimate hides, however, is the lack of Scope 3 reporting, which for a QSR is the majority of its carbon footprint, coming from the value chain-especially beef. Morningstar Sustainalytics currently assesses Jack in the Box as severely misaligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming target, a direct result of this incomplete disclosure and the aggressive long-term nature of the goals.

Here are the key targets and recent data points:

Metric	Base Year/Period	Value/Target	Timeline/Goal
Scope 1 & 2 GHG Emissions Reduction	FY2023 Baseline	12.5% Reduction	End of 2028 (Short Term)
Scope 1 & 2 GHG Emissions Reduction	FY2023 Baseline	25% Reduction	End of 2033 (Medium Term)
Cage-Free Egg Sourcing	End of 2024 Estimate	87% to 89% Cage-Free	100% by End of 2025
Total Consolidated Water Usage	FY2024	Approximately 138.5 million gallons	N/A