Whataburger buys largest franchiseeWhataburger buys largest franchisee

CORPUS CHRISTI Texas Whataburger Inc. on Monday acquired the 47 restaurants of its largest franchisee, Barrand Inc. of Red Oak, Texas.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition included 24 restaurants in Northeast Texas and 23 in the Florida Panhandle. The acquisition brings Whataburger’s number of company-owned restaurants to 591 out of 712 units nationwide.

Barrand Inc. was owned by Randal Brown, who became a franchisee of the burger chain in 1983 with a restaurant in Desoto, Texas.

Preston Atkinson, Whataburger’s president and chief operating officer, said the 47 units generate some of the highest volumes in the system.

Clifton Rutledge, Whataburger’s vice president for franchise development, will oversee the acquired restaurants, the company said.