Jaggers is about to become a big deal in Texas. Texas Roadhouse Inc. and The Saxton Group announced a franchise development agreement to develop 10 units of the fast-casual brand across east and central Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Louisville, Kentucky-based Jaggers first opened in 2014 and currently has one location there and two in Greenwood and Noblesville, Indiana, respectively. Per a report from IndyStar, a third Indiana location is set to open in mid-November in the Indianapolis area.
Jaggers is known for offering better burgers, hand-breaded chicken tenders, fresh salads with homemade dressings, sandwiches served with scratch-made sauces and signature shakes. In a statement regarding the agreement, Adam Saxton, co-CEO of The Saxton Group, said the group’s first Texas Jaggers unit will open in 2022. The location is still being determined but will likely be in a legacy market and will have drive-thru capability.
Seeing that Jaggers is only a three-unit brand, Saxton admits that being an early franchisee is something of a leap of faith. “We have never pursued any brand at that size because of how small they were,” he said. “A lot of brands that start franchising in their infancy are not ready to provide the level of service and support to franchisees that sophisticated large multi-unit operators expect.”
Highlighting the brand’s efficiency and its Texas Roadhouse development, he is confident that Jaggers will do well in new markets. “What’s exciting to me about Jaggers,” Saxton said, “is it’s like you took quick-service’s greatest hits — chicken, cheeseburgers, shakes, great salads, French fries, tater tots — and elevated the food quality.”
Jerry Morgan, CEO and president of Texas Roadhouse, expressed in a statement that the brand expansion is in good hands. “We are excited about the partnership with The Saxton Group, which has deep industry knowledge and 35 years of hands-on, operational experience,” he said.
