Jack in the Box Breaks Ground on New Innovation Center
City Assists with Expansion of Corporate Headquarters

SAN DIEGO - Answering customer demand for something new, Jack in the Box Inc. today broke ground on a 70,000-square-foot innovation center near its corporate offices in San Diego. The City of San Diego's Community and Economic Development Department's Business Expansion, Attraction and Retention team, through due diligence, expediting permits and offering incentive agreements, was able to help Jack in the Box with this expansion.

When completed in 2004, the Innovation Center will unite the company's marketing department with key technical groups, including research and development, quality assurance and operational services, in a state-of-the-art facility that will enable all aspects of menu development, from product ideation to restaurant execution.

"The City of San Diego is proud to be celebrating with Jack in the Box today, not just because of the new innovations that will be coming out of this remarkable center the company is building, but because Jack in the Box has decided that expanding their headquarters here in San Diego makes good business sense," said Dick Murphy, Mayor of the City of San Diego.

The City of San Diego has concentrated on improving its business assistance programs, cutting costs and changing policies to become more business friendly. Today, San Diego's economy is prospering compared to other large cities in the United States, in part because of its good government practices and the City's commitment to develop the regional economy and improve the quality of life.

The high-security, two-story innovation center will include test kitchens, laboratories, video and still-photography production studio, consumer research facilities, fabrication shop, several conference and project rooms, research libraries, warehouse and office space for executive and support staff migrating to the new facility.

"We have assembled a very creative and experienced team to guide menu development and deliver new products that consumers are looking for," said Linda Lang, executive vice president of marketing and operations. "While we are aggressively moving ahead on several new product ideas, our new innovation center will certainly enhance our product development efforts and keep Jack in the Box at the forefront of our industry."

The innovation center is being developed on roughly half of an 8.45-acre site the company acquired in 2000 at San Diego Spectrum, a 232-acre mixed-use business park. The company has no current development plans for the remaining 4.5 acres.

Jack in the Box Inc. (NYSE: JBX) operates and franchises two restaurant chains in 29 states: Jack in the Box&#reg; restaurants and Qdoba Mexican Grill&#reg;. Jack in the Box is the nation's first major drive-thru hamburger chain, with nearly 1,900 restaurants, and Qdoba Mexican Grill is a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 90 restaurants. With headquarters in San Diego, Jack in the Box Inc. has more than 44,000 employees. For more information, visit www.jackinthebox.com and www.qdoba.com.

Helping businesses in San Diego grow and flourish is a major focus of the City of San Diego. Over the last year, the City has assisted in the retention, attraction and expansion of hundreds of companies. This assistance has helped to retain and create nearly 8,000 jobs, facilitate private investment of more than $540 million and create approximately $3.5 million in General Fund revenue to pay for basic City services, such as police, fire and park and recreation facilities.

The City is dedicated to helping foster the region's economic base to improve the quality of life for its citizens and business community. Through many continuing programs and projects, the City creates opportunities for businesses to succeed. For more information on the City of San Diego's business assistance programs, please call (619) 533-4233 or visit the City's website at www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/business-assistance.

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With an emphasis on the City's urban core neighborhoods and low- and moderate-income residents, the Community and Economic Development Department strives to improve the quality of life and ensure a healthy economy in San Diego through job development, business development, neighborhood revitalization, public improvements, redevelopment, social services, and revenue enhancement.