Jack in the Box is the 5th largest burger brand, but it bested McDonald's during the pandemic. Now, it's looking for franchisees to open restaurants, which make about $1.7 million a year. Summary List Placement In 2018, a group representing Jack in the Box franchisees called for the ouster of then-CEO Leonard Comma for failing to address declining sales at the burger chain. Frustrated franchisees complained that rivals were beating Jack in the Box at every level – from marketing to menu innovation. The National Jack in the Box Franchisee Association eventually sued the San Diego-based chain for breach of contract. But now the tables have turned. The fifth-largest burger brand in the US is besting its main burger competitors under new leadership. Jack in the Box beat rivals such as McDonald's and Burger King on several key metrics including same-store sales. This metric measures a company's financial performance at stores open for more than a year. Jack in the Box's success prompted it to announce plans to relaunch its franchising program for the first time in a decade. A different approach to the pandemic While other big brands like McDonald's and Taco Bell were trimming menus and reducing breakfast options during the pandemic, Jack in the Box did the exact opposite, CEO Darin Harris told Insider.