SAN DIEGO – Jack in the Box sold 37 company-owned locations to franchisees in the Seattle area in two transactions worth $20 million, the company recently announced.

AJP Enterprises, Inc. acquired 26 Jack in the Box restaurants and Northwest Food Management Group, Inc. acquired 11 Jack in the Box restaurants. Both sales occurred in April, according to Jack in the Box. The company said the transactions are a strategic move aimed at expanding franchising and franchise ownership in the Jack in the Box system. Jack in the Box said it expects to sell 80 to 120 restaurants in fiscal 2012, including the 37 Seattle locations.