Editing Checkers and Rally's

{{Short description|American fast food company}}
{{Redirect|Rally's|other uses|Rally (disambiguation){{!}}Rally (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Checkers and Rally's
| logo = [[File:Checkers_and_Rally's_logo_(2025).svg|300px]]
| logo_size = 180px
| trade_name = Checkers<br/>Rally's
| image = Checkers Drive-in Restaurant Taylor Michigan.JPG
| image_caption = Checkers Drive-In (originally a Rally's), [[Taylor, Michigan]]
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| area_served = United States
| industry = [[Fast food]] [[Franchising]]
| products = [[Hamburger|Burgers]], [[hot dogs]], [[Chicken (food)|chicken]], [[Fish (food)|fish]], [[hot wings]], [[french fries]], [[Milkshake|shakes]], [[soft drink]]s
| owner = Checkers Holding Inc
| num_employees = 
| homepage = {{URL|checkersandrallys.com}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1986}} (as Checker's)<br/>[[Mobile, Alabama]], U.S.<br/>{{start date and age|1985}} (as Rally's)<br/>[[Louisville, Kentucky]], U.S.<br/>{{start date and age|1999}} (merger of Checkers and Rally's)
| founders = {{ubl|Jim Mattei (Checkers)|Jim Patterson (Rally's)}}
| location = [[Tampa, Florida]]
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| revenue = US$ 521 million<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.checkers.com/?_ga=2.50161318.1606527080.1628443557-2091979315.1628443557|website=www.checkers.com|title=Checkers Drive-In – Burgers - Fries - Cola - Wings }}</ref> {{increase}}
| locations = {{collapsible list
| framestyle=border:none; padding:0;
| title = 745 (2024)
 | '''Checkers''' (472)
 | '''Rally's''' (273)
}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://locations.checkers.com/index.html|date=August 8, 2021|title=Checkers Locations|access-date=August 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=August 8, 2021|title=Rally's Locations|url=https://locations.rallys.com/index.html|access-date=August 8, 2021}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Checkers and Rally's footprint.png|right|thumb|405px|Map of locations <span style="font-size:x-small;">&nbsp; (red: ''Checkers'', blue: ''Rally's'')</span>]]
'''Checkers and Rally's LLC''' is an American fast food double drive-through chain franchise in the [[United States]]. The brand operates '''Checkers''' and '''Rally's''' restaurants in 28 states and the [[District of Columbia]]. They specialize in [[hamburger|hamburgers]], [[hot dog|hot dogs]], [[french fries]], [[milkshake|milkshakes]], and [[drink|drinks]].

==Overview==
{{Multiple image
|image1=Rally's drive-through.jpg
|caption1=An exterior of a Rally's in Metairie, Louisiana}}

Originally separate companies serving different geographic areas (with Checkers serving the [[Southeastern United States|Southeast]] and Rally's serving the [[Midwest]]), Checkers and Rally's merged in August 1999. Generally speaking, the Checkers name remains used in the Southeast as well as the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] while the Rally's name remains used in the Midwest as well as [[California]]; the two brands have overlapped in several areas.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The merged company is headquartered in [[Tampa, Florida]]. Most locations specialize in [[carryout]] service with drive-through and "walk-up" windows available, but no indoor seating, though some legacy Rally's locations in the Midwest retain dining rooms, as well as two Checkers locations with indoor dining areas in [[Clearwater, Florida|Clearwater]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], and [[Tavares, Florida|Tavares]], Florida.

Checkers was founded in 1986 in [[Mobile, Alabama]] by Jim Mattei and went public in 1991. Rally's was founded in [[Louisville, Kentucky]] in 1985 by Jim Patterson.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://insiderlouisville.com/economy/franchisee-plans-to-expand-rallys-hamburgers-brand-in-louisville/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114044404/https://insiderlouisville.com/economy/franchisee-plans-to-expand-rallys-hamburgers-brand-in-louisville/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |title=Franchisee plans to expand Rally's Hamburgers brand in Kentucky |work=[[Media in Louisville, Kentucky#Newspapers, magazines and online news|Insider Louisville]] |last=Bowling |first=Caitlin |date=April 1, 2018 |access-date=August 6, 2019 }}</ref> In 1991 and 1992, Rally's absorbed Maxie's of America, Snapps Drive-Thru and Zipps Drive-Thru.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rally's History |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/rally-s-history |access-date=April 4, 2018 |website=fundinguniverse.com}}</ref>

In 1996, Rally's was bought by [[CKE Restaurants]], a parent company of [[Carl's Jr.]] and [[Hardee's]]. CKE sold Rally's to Checkers in 1999. Unlike the two CKE chains (which have at various points flip flopped between marketing Carl's Jr. & Hardee's as one chain or separate regional chains that both share Carl's Jr's Happy Star logo and imaging, but have largely separate menus), Checkers promptly merged Rally's into its branding, and the two chains are now only different by name.

In June 2006, the company went private through a merger with Taxi Holdings Corp., an affiliate of Wellspring Capital Management, a private equity firm. In 2014, Wellspring sold Checkers to another private equity firm, [[Sentinel Capital Partners]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = Checkers, Rally's operator to be acquired by Sentinel Capital Partners - Corporate content from Nation's Restaurant News| access-date = October 6, 2015 | url = http://nrn.com/corporate/checkers-rally-s-operator-be-acquired-sentinel-capital-partners}}</ref> On March 23, 2017, Checkers announced that it would be sold to [[Oak Hill Capital Partners]] for $525 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jargon|first=Julie|title=Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Agrees to Be Sold in $525 Million Deal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/checkers-drive-in-restaurants-agrees-to-be-sold-for-525-million-1490241840|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=March 23, 2017|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref> The sale was completed a month later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oak Hill, Sentinel seal $525M transaction |url=https://pitchbook.com/newsletter/oak-hill-sentinel-seal-525m-transaction |website=PitchBook |access-date=May 23, 2020 |date=April 26, 2017}}</ref>

On May 23, 2018, Checkers announced a planned expansion for over two dozen locations in the [[Pittsburgh]] area. Despite Rally's having brand recognition in the area the locations were to be branded as Checkers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/checkers-rallys-extending-fast-food-footprint-pittsburgh|last=Heyl |first= Eric |date=May 23, 2018|title= Checkers & Rally's Extending Fast Food Footprint To Pittsburgh |work=[[Patch Media]]|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/lifestyles/fooddrink/13685529-74/checkers-rallys-plans-two-dozen-restaurants-around-pittsburgh|last=Pickels |first=Mary|date=May 25, 2018|title=Checkers & Rally's plans two dozen restaurants around Pittsburgh|work=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref> The company made its official return in the area in 2019 under the Rally's brand with the opening of a location in [[Penn Hills, Pennsylvania|Penn Hills]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heyl |first=Eric |date=August 4, 2019 |title=Rally's Returns to Pittsburgh |url=https://patch.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/rallys-returns-pittsburgh |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=patch.com}}</ref>
[[File:Big Buford burger from Checkers.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Big Buford burger]]

In February 2020, Checkers & Rally's named Frances Allen, former CEO of [[Boston Market]], as their new CEO. She left the position in April 2024 and was replaced by Chris Tebben, former President of Mars Retail Group, in September 2024 .<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/checkers-rally-s-seeks-ceo-frances-allen-steps-down | title=Checkers & Rally's seeks CEO as Frances Allen steps down | website=Nation's Restaurants News | date=Apr 4, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/checkers-and-rallys-ceo-frances-allen-resigns/712348/ | title=Checkers & Rally's CEO resigns | website=Restaurant Dive | date=April 5, 2024}}</ref> 

===Advertising and promotions===
One of the first advertising campaigns by Checkers and Rally's from 1999 to late 2000 featured the slogan "High Performance Human Fuel". The [[television]] [[advertisement]]s for the campaign were animated in an anime style, featuring a woman named Holly, in pursuit of fast food. The ads were created by [[Crispin Porter & Bogusky]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/new-campaign-hi-performance-human-fuel|title=New Campaign: Hi-Performance, Human Fuel|work=QSR (magazine) |date=January 12, 2000 |access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref> and illustrated by [[Peter Chung]], who was also responsible for the animation of MTV series ''[[Æon Flux]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Siebert |first=T.w. |date=January 17, 2000 |title=Checkers, Rally's Given 'Toon Up |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/checkers-rallys-given-toon-34678 |access-date=June 12, 2024 |work=[[Adweek]]}}</ref>

In September 2007, ML Rogers, an advertising agency, won the advertising rights for Checkers Restaurants, and completely restructured the advertising campaign. Among the many changes is their new slogan, "little place. BIG TASTE", beginning October 2007.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.franchising.com/news/20071018_checkersregrallysreg_launches_new_advertising_camp.html|title=Checkers®/Rally's® Launches New Advertising Campaign|date=October 18, 2007|work=Franchising.com|access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref> In 2007, the chain used a character called Rap Cat, a stuffed animal cat who performs a rap song about the chain. The ad campaign became popular after it became a [[viral video]] on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Urstadt |first=Bryan |date=July 6, 2007 |title=How Rap Cat Made It into This Headline |url=https://nymag.com/news/features/34473 |access-date=June 12, 2024 |work=New York Magazine}}</ref> The company gave away paper bags patterned like a basketball jersey to be worn by cats, with slots to cut out for the legs and tail, and asked customers to post videos of their cat wearing it to a Rap Cat website. This received criticism from animal rights activists, though Checkers stated that the packaging was "intended only as a creative extension of our television campaign."<ref>{{cite news |last=Varian |first=Bill |date=February 20, 2007 |title=Bag the cat? Uh, promo might not be good idea |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/20/Hillsborough/Bag_the_cat_Uh__promo.shtml |access-date=January 1, 2010 |work=St Petersburg Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cebrzynski |first=Gregg |date=March 5, 2007 |title=Checkers' Rapcat raises issue of 'edginess' in online promos |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_10_41/ai_n18726467/ |access-date=January 1, 2010 |work=Nation's Restaurant News}}</ref>

In September 2014, they started to have a character called Mr. Bag, a talking bag who appears in the new commercials for Checkers and Rally's.

In September 2016, rapper and restaurateur [[Rick Ross]] stated his plans for a partnership with Checkers and Rally's, including ownership of a few franchises.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Biz |date=September 22, 2016 |title=RICK ROSS BURGERS UP, GOES FACE-TO-FACE W/ CHECKERS BAAWWWWSE: 'WE GON DO IT DIS BIG' |url=http://www.sohh.com/rick-ross-burgers-goes-face-face-w-checkers-baawwwwse-gon-dis-big/ |access-date=November 22, 2016 |work=sohh.com}}</ref> He opened his first franchise location in [[Miami]] in early 2017.

"As of 2025, the chain offers various limited-time specials including meal bundles and discounts on select items."<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-05-09 |title=Checkers Specials – Limited-Time Offers and Deals |url=https://checkersmenus.com/checkers-specials/ |website=CheckersMenus.com |access-date=2025-05-09}}</ref>

===Security and privacy===
On May 29, 2019, Checkers and Rally's disclosed a long-running data breach that affected an unknown number of customers at 103 of its Checkers and Rally's locations, with some being infected with a point-of-sale [[malware]] as early as 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Checkers restaurant chain discloses card breach |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/checkers-restaurant-chain-discloses-card-breach/ |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=ZDNet |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Checkers (fast food)}}
*{{Official website|https://www.checkersandrallys.com}}

{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Checkers (Fast Food)}}
[[Category:Companies based in Mobile, Alabama]]
[[Category:Companies based in Louisville, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Companies based in Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:Economy of the Eastern United States]]
[[Category:Economy of the Southwestern United States]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]]
[[Category:Fast-food hamburger restaurants]]
[[Category:Fast-food franchises]]
[[Category:1986 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:2006 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1985]]