RISE - Menu Monitor

Taco Bell plans to roll out its test of a breakfast menu to an unspecified number of outlets in three new markets next year and
is considering adding the breakfast menu at all 5,800 units. The chain has been testing the menu at locations in Southern
California. (NRN Daily NewsFax 12/06/06)
Taco Bell is planning to switch to zero-trans-fat frying oils at all of its U.S. units by April 2007. The change will affect about 15
menu items. The chain is switching to two types of zero-trans-fat oils, including canola oil which will be used at 4,200
standalone units and a soybean oil at 1,400 co-branded restaurants. Taco Bell is not cutting trans fat from products such as
dressings, sauces, baked items or desserts. (NRN Daily NewsFax 11/17/06; Los Angeles Times 11/17/06; Company Release
11/16/06)
Taco Bell is introducing its new Carne Asada Steak Grilled Taquitos during the Super Bowl. The taquitos feature carne asada
steak, Cheddar cheese, and guacamole, sour cream or salsa wrapped in a grilled tortilla. (Company Release 1/25/07)
Taco Bell is planning to expand its test of breakfast items that are currently being offered at units in Southern California.
According to California bloggers, items being tested include a “Grilled Stuft” burrito with sausage and bacon, a Southwest
sausage burrito, an egg, bacon and cheese burrito and cinnamon “Toastadas.” (Nation’s Restaurant News Online 2/23/07)
Taco Bell is testing a breakfast menu that will offer “Mexican-inspired alternatives” to the traditional breakfast. The company
plans to offer a national breakfast menu that will be tested in three U.S. markets. The company expects that breakfast will add
a possible $208,000 in annual sales per restaurant. (QSR Magazine 4/12/07 p16)
Yum! Brands chains KFC and Taco Bell have completed their switch to a trans-fat-free menu. All 5,500 U.S. KFC locations
have made the transition as well as all 4,200 Taco Bells across the country. Oil now used in Taco Bells is canola oil while oil
used in KFCs is now soybean oil. Currently, 23 Taco Bell menu items are trans-fat-free, including the chicken and beef
crunchy taco, chicken and steak Gordita Supreme, grilled steak soft taco and the chicken and steak Chalupa Supreme.
(Usatoday.com 5/2/07)
Taco Bell is offering the Extreme Cheese and Beef Quesadilla on its Big Bell value menu. The quesadilla features a blend of
three cheeses, nacho cheese sauce and seasoned ground beef. The item is priced at $1.29 for a limited time. It is the first
quesadilla ever to appear on the chain’s Big Bell Value Menu. (Meat and Poultry Online 6/4/07)
Yum! Brands is expanding Taco Bell’s tomato deal with a Florida farmworker group to cover all of its restaurant chains,
including Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and A&W. Yum! Brands previously agreed to pay a penny-a-pound surcharge for
tomatoes used by Taco Bell after a pressure campaign from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Yum! says it is expanding
the surcharge agreement with the hope that other restaurants and supermarkets will follow its example. (AFX.com 5/19/07;
NRN Daily NewsFax 5/22/07)
Taco Bell debuted its Cheesy Beefy Melt, with seasoned beef and rice, melted cheese and sour cream wrapped in a tortilla.
(Company Website)
Taco Bell introduced its Chili Cheese Nachos BellGrande, with nacho cheese, chili, sour cream, tomatoes and beans.
(Company Website)
Franchise Activity |
Taco Bell franchised units in Golden Valley, MN, are undergoing renovations. Franchisee Border Foods Inc. is redesigning all
of its 90 stores in the state. Border Foods updated two locations this past year and plans to renovate six more over the next six
months. Five years ago Taco Bell rolled out the “Bold Choice” building design to help reposition the brand. The revamped
design includes a warmer color palette in the dining area, freestanding dining table and chairs, separating the dining room
from the order area, and an enlarged, landscaped patio. (Franchise Times 11-12/06 p51)
International Activities |
Yum! Brands is planning to open Taco Bell units in India. The company expects to take 18 months to roll out the brand in
India. Yum also said that it wants to open an additional 60–70 KFC outlets in India by 2008. Yum currently has 130 Pizza Huts
and 20 KFC restaurants in operation in India. (The Hindu 11/13/06)
Uno Chicago Grill is re-entering the Cincinnati market. The chain previously had three restaurants in the market. A local Taco
Bell franchisee purchased one unit in West Chester and is planning to develop three to five locations in the next two to three
years. The first of these restaurants is slated to open in early 2007. (Cincinnati Business Courier 11/17/06)
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