McAlister's Deli is once again celebrating one of its most popular annual events—Free Tea Day. On Thursday, July 16, 2026, customers can stop by participating McAlister's locations across the United States and receive one complimentary tea, with no purchase required, as the restaurant marks its signature beverage tradition.

Since its debut in 2009, Free Tea Day has evolved into more than a promotional event. It reflects McAlister's ongoing commitment to fostering meaningful relationships within the communities it serves. Through the years, the brand has supported neighborhoods with fundraising campaigns, collaborations with schools and nonprofit organizations, and initiatives that recognize local heroes.

The 2026 celebration follows the company's CommuniTEA Connections campaign, a community engagement program created to honor individuals making a positive impact in their local areas. As part of the initiative, teachers, healthcare professionals, and first responders received Free Tea Passes, highlighting McAlister's dedication to recognizing those who serve their communities.

"Free Tea Day is our way of expressing appreciation to our guests, our communities, and the people who make them better every day," said Jessica Osborne, Vice President of Marketing at McAlister's Deli. "Whether people are enjoying tea with family, friends, or coworkers, these shared moments strengthen the connections that have always defined our brand."

Visitors participating in Free Tea Day can also experience McAlister's signature beverage offerings. The restaurant prepares its exclusive tea blend fresh throughout the day using Rainforest Alliance Certified tea leaves. Guests can further personalize their drinks with flavor shots or choose from the brand's well-known tea and lemonade combinations, creating a handcrafted beverage experience that has become a customer favorite.

Whether someone is a loyal guest or visiting for the first time, Free Tea Day offers an opportunity to enjoy McAlister's signature hospitality while celebrating community, connection, and freshly brewed tea.

Customers who are unable to visit on July 16 can still take advantage of a special weekend promotion. McAlister's Rewards members will receive a complimentary beverage with the purchase of an entrée from July 17 through July 19, 2026, at participating restaurants. Additional information, including participating locations and promotion details, is available on the McAlister's Deli website.

Promotion Details
On July 16, 2026, participating McAlister's Deli restaurants will offer one free Big Tea per guest. Eligible beverages include Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea, Half Sweet & Half Unsweet Tea, Tea & Lemonade combinations, Flavored Teas, and one complimentary flavor shot. The promotion excludes non-tea beverages, Kids' Drinks, and cold foam options. Guests are limited to one free tea per person for in-store orders and up to four complimentary teas per online or mobile app order. Delivery, service, convenience fees, taxes, and other restrictions may apply. The offer cannot be combined with other promotions, rewards, or third-party delivery services and is void where prohibited.

From July 17–19, 2026, McAlister's Rewards members can redeem one complimentary beverage—including select tea varieties, lemonade, or fountain drinks—with the purchase of a qualifying entrée at participating locations. Flavor shots, taxes, and applicable fees are not included. The reward must be applied during checkout, is valid for one-time use only, and cannot be combined with other offers or third-party delivery orders. Additional restrictions and fees may apply.

Taco John’s, a prominent Mexican quick-service restaurant chain, has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Ian Poole as Vice President of Development. A seasoned professional in business development and franchising, Poole brings close to two decades of experience driving expansion for major restaurant and franchise brands.

A Strategic Move to Accelerate Growth
Before joining Taco John’s, Poole served as Vice President of Development at Subway, where he led North American development efforts. In that role, he oversaw franchise sales, real estate, construction and design, equipment, operations, and leasing for a network of more than 22,000 locations. He has also contributed to the growth of brands such as Dunkin’ and Planet Fitness. At Taco John’s, Poole will focus on supporting brand expansion while improving franchisee success through enhancements in onboarding, real estate strategy, and construction processes.

“Taco John’s has established a strong foundation with a clear focus on supporting franchisees, and I’m excited to help drive the brand’s next phase of growth,” said Ian Poole, VP of Development.

“My priority is to expand the brand thoughtfully and sustainably while providing streamlined, end-to-end support for every franchise owner. We’re building a system that enables both new and existing franchisees to grow with confidence, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Poole’s background also includes hands-on experience as a franchisee with Burger King, Popeyes, and Arby’s under Ambrosia QSR. His collaborative leadership style is centered on strengthening relationships across the franchise network.

“Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John’s, noted that Poole’s appointment marks an important step in advancing the company’s franchise development efforts. His dual perspective as both an executive and a franchise owner provides valuable insight into refining systems that set franchisees up for long-term success. As the brand builds on recent operational investments, his expertise is expected to play a key role in sustaining momentum.”

Renewed Focus on Franchisee Support
Following a year of foundational progress, Taco John’s entered 2026 positioned for strategic, data-driven growth. Investments in the brand’s Path to Ownership initiative are giving franchisees access to expanded resources, succession planning, and improved communication across the system.

The company is also prioritizing non-traditional formats as a key growth avenue, planning pilot locations with experienced operators to evaluate performance and scale responsibly. Future initiatives include menu optimization for smaller spaces, simplified labor models, performance standards for high-traffic environments, and targeted marketing strategies tailored to these formats. This approach allows entry into high-demand locations with lower capital requirements while complementing traditional restaurant development.

Taco John’s continues to invest in its development infrastructure and franchise support systems, presenting an attractive opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking to expand their portfolios with an established concept.

With more than 325 restaurants across 21 states, the brand sees strong growth opportunities in the Upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions. Both new and multi-unit operators are being offered customized support to scale efficiently and sustainably.

According to the company’s Franchise Disclosure Document, the top 25% of freestanding Taco John’s restaurants with drive-thru report an average unit volume (AUV) of $1,889,495.

Click here to know more about Taco John's franchise opportunities.