Taco Bell Debuts the Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco Nationwide

Beginning Sept. 2, Taco Bell's long-awaited Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco will be available nationwide at participating locations for a limited time. After locally testing earlier this year in Nashville, TN and Charlotte, NC to much success, the test kitchen masterminds knew it was time to go nationwide. Fans can also get their cravings met with early access on Aug. 30 during Happier Hour via the Taco Bell app.

Fluffy like a sandwich, but folded like a taco, the Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco is the latest from the masterminds in menu item mashups. Taco Bell is no stranger to the world of crispy chicken after introducing fan-favorites like...

Taco Bell Teams Up with Lil Nas X and Appoints Him Chief Impact Officer

Back in 2017, Lil Nas X laid down roots working at an Atlanta-area Taco Bell as a team member. Less than five years later, he has ascended to stardom by defying conventions, charting his own course and remaining authentically true to himself - all things that Taco Bell stands for in its own way. Over the next several months, Taco Bell will "Live Nas," as Lil Nas lives Más.

As a cultural icon with an insider's perspective on the Taco Bell team member experience...

Taco Bell Announces Limited Time TRUFF Partnership 

Last month, the fan-favorite Nacho Fries made its seventh debut to menus nationwide. Now, Taco Bell is spicing things up through a new partnership with fellow SoCal brand TRUFF, the truffle hot sauce brand known for reimagining and elevating pantry staples, to test Loaded TRUFF Nacho Fries and the Loaded TRUFF Fries Burrito.

Nacho Fries first changed the fry game back in 2018, disrupting traditional ketchup convention with an industry-rocking Nacho Cheese sauce pairing. Thanks to the flavor masterminds at Taco Bell and TRUFF, the secret remains within...

Taco Bell And Franchisee Partner to Revolutionize the Drive-Thru Experience with Taco Bell Defy

One of its most innovative Taco Bell restaurant designs yet, Taco Bell Defy is set to break ground in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, later this month. With plans to open its doors to the public by summer 2022, the 3,000 square-foot, two-story model features first-of-its-kind Vertical Works Inc.-licensed design and technology, and represents a true franchisee-franchisor relationship at its finest. The revolutionary pickup experience at the Defy restaurant is expected to be the fastest way ever to get Taco Bell – from cruising into any of its four lanes, to checking in, to grabbing your Taco Bell favorites – it's the frictionless future of Taco Bell.

The Defy concept was developed in partnership with Minneapolis-based Vertical Works Inc., a design company that merges manufacturing and construction to concept and build industry-leading solutions for...

Taco Bell Celebrates Year of Digital Acceleration by Spicing Up Rewards Program

The Taco Bell Rewards program celebrates a successful first year with more digital innovations and in-restaurant experiences for its fans. In true Taco Bell fashion, the brand is rejoicing in the biggest way possible and giving away free tacos for a year to one hundred lucky winners.

Taco Bell Rewards and the Taco Bell app have never been more rewarding. Now, the brand is expanding its digital capabilities, allowing fans to earn points on purchases made in-restaurant, through drive-thrus, and on digital kiosks. The additional access points make it easier to...

Yum! Brands Reports Second Quarter Results

Yum! Brands, Inc. reported results for the second-quarter ended June 30, 2021. Worldwide system sales excluding foreign currency translation grew 26%, with 23% same-store sales and 2% unit growth. Second-quarter GAAP EPS was $1.29, an increase of 91% over the prior year quarter. Second-quarter EPS excluding Special Items was $1.16, an increase of 41% over the prior year quarter.

DAVID GIBBS COMMENTS

David Gibbs, CEO, said “Our strong second-quarter results, led by record unit development and 23% same-store sales growth are a testament to our iconic brands, world-class talent, and best-in-class franchisees. I’m proud that each of our divisions reported positive same-store sales growth on a 2-year basis, a step up...

Yum! Brands Annual Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report Shows Company's Commitment to Growth

Yum! Brands, Inc. released its annual Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report, highlighting the Company’s strategic investments in socially responsible growth, risk management and sustainable stewardship of its people, food and impact on the planet. Yum! and its KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill brands made progress in critical areas including climate action, food safety and creating greater equity and opportunity across its system.

“2020 marked a turning point for communities and businesses around the world, as the pandemic deepened existing societal issues and inequalities"...

Taco Bell Unveils Latest Menu Round-up

After putting the finishing touches on its new streamlined menu to make room for new innovations, Taco Bell has unveiled its latest menu offerings that will be available nationwide or for testing in select markets.

Since Nacho Fries first launched in 2018, Taco Bell has reimagined the beloved menu item multiple times with innovations. This time, Nacho Fries will be joined by the new Loaded Taco Fries.

The latest fry innovation features...

Taco Bell Tests a Naked Chalupa With a Plant-Based Shell

The introduction of the Naked Chicken Chalupa at Taco Bell changed the fried chicken game. Now, Taco Bell is looking to reinvent its own game-changing invention in the chicken wars by testing a plant-based shell alternative. Meet the Naked Chalupa with a Crispy Plant-Based Shell, a new menu innovation for vegetarian and veggie-curious consumers.

This latest shell innovation challenges the status quo of what vegetarian mashups look and taste like. Thanks to the masterminds of the Taco Bell Test Kitchen, the newest specialty is made from a pea protein-based proprietary blend that's breaded, shaped into the unique Chalupa form and then crisped to order. The shell is certified vegan by the American Vegetarian Association and proves...

Yum! Brands Undertakes to Acquire Dragontail Systems

Yum! Brands and Dragontail Systems Limited, an innovative provider of technology solutions for the food industry, announced that they have entered into a binding agreement under which Yum! Brands would acquire Dragontail by way of a share scheme of arrangement in accordance with Australian corporations law (referred to as the Scheme).

If the Scheme is successfully implemented, the addition of Dragontail to Yum! Brands’ growing technology portfolio is intended to give Yum! Brands the ability to scale Dragontail’s artificial intelligence (AI) kitchen order management and delivery technology globally.

Australia-based Dragontail’s platform is focused on optimizing and managing the entire food preparation process from order through delivery. Its AI-based solution automates...

Taco Bell Brings Back the Naked Chicken Chalupa to Disrupt the Chicken Wars

Taco Bell is providing fans with a different way to enjoy chicken. Starting on May 20, consumers nationwide will be able to enjoy Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chalupa.

"When you look at the industry, you see the same sandwich being introduced as new everywhere, but at Taco Bell, being a follower isn't our philosophy. We've listened to our fans and we're confident this is the perfect time to bring back this fan-favorite," said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell's Chief Food Innovation Officer. "The Naked Chicken Chalupa is just the beginning of Taco Bell's chicken offerings this year with...

Yum China Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

Yum China Holdings reported unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak and Mitigation Efforts

Yum China reported substantial year-over-year growth in the first quarter, as the Company began to lap prior year periods that were impacted by COVID-19. System sales growth was mainly attributable to same-store sales growth, new unit contribution and substantially fewer temporary store closures. Operating Profit growth was further driven by lower commodity prices and productivity gains.

First quarter sales were impacted by regional resurgences of COVID-19 before the Chinese New Year and tightened public health measures across China. The tightened measures and...

Yum! Brands Reports First-Quarter Results

Yum! Brands reported results for the first-quarter ended March 31, 2021. Worldwide system sales excluding foreign currency translation grew 11%, with 9% same-store sales and 1% unit growth. First-quarter GAAP EPS was $1.07. First-quarter EPS excluding Special Items was also $1.07, an increase of 67% over the prior year quarter.

David Gibbs Comments

David Gibbs, CEO, said “First-quarter results reflect encouraging momentum across our business, including solid 2-year same-store sales growth and a meaningful uplift in unit development, underpinned by the focus and collaboration of our franchise partners and restaurant teams around the world. During the quarter we took important steps to further boost our digital and marketing capabilities through the acquisitions of...

Yum! Brands Announces Approved Science-Based Targets to Address Climate Change 

Yum! Brands, parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill restaurants, announced it will decrease its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 46% by 2030 in partnership with its franchisees, suppliers and producers as part of its broader strategy to address climate change. Additionally, Yum! pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The science-based targets (SBTs) are consistent with reductions required to keep warming to 1.5ºC and have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.

“Climate change is one of the top priorities of our Recipe for Good strategy, and we’re investing significantly in sustainable growth to address this issue by working closely with our brands, franchisees and suppliers,” said David Gibbs, Yum! Brands CEO. “We believe in the collective power of Yum! and...

Taco Bell to Continue New York City Expansion this Month 

Taco Bell is making its presence known with a new Cantina in the heart of Times Square. Built with the energy and on-the-go vibrance of New York City in mind, the newest restaurant embraces technology in a whole new way to serve the demands of New Yorkers.

The Cantina opens its doors to New Yorkers on April 14. Below are the unique elements of both the restaurant itself and its new neighborhood...

Taco Bell Plans for Major Hiring Push in April

Taco Bell is preparing for continued restaurant growth and reopenings by launching its fourth annual Hiring Parties event on Wednesday, April 21. Converting parking lots into job fairs, these one-day events with on-the-spot interview opportunities will take place at almost 2,000 participating company and franchise-owned locations across the U.S. The goal is to hire at least 5,000 new team members from this year’s Hiring Parties.

Adhering to COVID-19 safety precautions, this year’s Hiring Parties will be held outside, in creative locations like patio areas—some candidates may even be able to participate in...

Taco Bell is Redefining the Restaurant of The Future with Ambitious Growth Pipeline

Taco Bell® is looking long-term as it reinvents what it means to be a restaurant of the future. On track to have 10,000 restaurants open globally this decade, the brand is leveraging a multitude of design formats to enhance and redefine both the customer and team member QSR experience in a constantly shifting world.

In collaboration with its franchisees, Taco Bell has continued to evolve its restaurants on an ongoing basis. Back in 2015, the brand saw that customers were eager for urban locations without drive-thrus; so, they developed Cantinas. In navigating COVID-19, Taco Bell again adapted with improvements to digital and...

Taco Bell Brings Back Iconic Limited Time Offer: The Quesalupa

Taco Bell is no stranger to rocking the quick-service restaurant industry with its innovative menu items, and the 2016 introduction of the Quesalupa was no exception. After years of perfecting the recipe, Taco Bell is bringing it back. During its debut, the Quesalupa was one of the brand's biggest limited-time offers in history. Now it's back, with 50 percent more cheese inside its double-layered shell.

The journey of transforming a chalupa to Quesalupa starts with stuffing the crispy chalupa shell with a blend of melted pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses from edge-to-edge. Inside are Taco Bell's signature flavors including seasoned beef, crispy lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, fresh diced tomatoes and...

Beyond Meat Announces Global Strategic Agreements with McDonald's and Yum! Brands 

Following the release of its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2020, Beyond Meat announced a global strategic partnership with McDonald's and Yum! Brands to offer signature plant-based menu items.

As part of the three-year global agreement with McDonald's, Beyond Meat will be the preferred supplier for the patty in the McPlant, a new plant-based burger being tested in select McDonald's markets globally. Additionally, Beyond Meat and McDonald's will explore developing other plant-based menu items together, including options for chicken, pork, and eggs, as part of McDonald's broader McPlant platform.

The announcement further solidifies the relationship between McDonald's and Beyond Meat, which began in 2019 with the test of...

Shifting Trends See Global Food Giants Ramp Up Their Plant-based Offerings

The past few years have seen plant-based meat and dairy alternatives go from a niche product to a mainstream trend, and finally to a mainstay in the food industry. Now that the average consumer has had the opportunity to try plant-based alternatives, the market has spoken and plant-based foods are taking a much larger role in the food industry in 2021.

Plant-based offerings are being added to the lineups of the world's largest food producers, multinational restaurants and cafes, and to important segments like the infant nutrition space. It's clear that the largest players in the food industry like Tyson Foods, PepsiCo, Starbucks Corporation, and Yum! Brands, along with innovative plant-based foods companies like...

Yum! Brands Reports Fourth-Quarter Results

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today reported results for the fourth-quarter and year ended December 31, 2020. Fourth-quarter GAAP EPS was $1.08, a decrease of (32)%. Full-year GAAP EPS was $2.94, a decrease of (29)%. Fourth-quarter EPS excluding Special Items was $1.15, an increase of 15%. Full-year EPS excluding Special Items was $3.62, an increase of 2%.

DAVID GIBBS & CHRIS TURNER COMMENTS

David Gibbs, CEO, said “Yum! enters 2021 a stronger company primed to profitably grow system sales this year and beyond. Despite the challenges of 2020...

Taco Bell Introduces Build Your Own Cravings Box 

For just $5, Taco Bell is introducing a new Build Your Own Cravings Box. The offer will be available exclusively to Taco Bell Rewards Beta members on the Taco Bell app starting today, and to other Taco Bell digital customers on February 11.

Stretching customers' dollars further than ever before, the Build Your Own Cravings Box is the ultimate Taco Bell eating experience. Packaged in a convenient, recyclable paperboard box, guests can create their meal exactly as they please from a selection of favorites. With the click of a button, 18 different variations appear on Taco Bell's mobile and website, showcased in the following categories...

Taco Bell Announces Return of Potatoes and Plans to Launch Beyond Meat Menu Items

Taco Bell is starting fresh in 2021, especially with its vegetarian fans. The brand is kicking the year off with the return of potatoes and exploring a new plant-based protein with Beyond Meat.

After a brief hiatus from menus due to Taco Bell's menu simplification efforts last year, Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes and the Spicy Potato Soft Taco will be back starting March 11. Taco Bell is also teaming up with Beyond Meat to create an innovative new plant-based protein that will be tested in the next year. Taco Bell chose to team up with...

Britain’s Drive Thru Spend Up 45% September to November 2020

The trend for ordering food and drinks from our cars at Britain’s growing number of drive-thru restaurants soared from September to November 2020 according to global information company The NPD Group. There were 121 million visits to Britain’s 2,000 quick service restaurants (QSR) that offer drive-thru in those three months in 2020, a 14% increase on the same period last year. Spend was up 45% to £723m over this time frame, with consumers tending to place larger-than-average orders at the drive-thru window.

According to footfall analysis from NPD’s SnapMyEats data, the growth in drive-thru in these three months was a result of consumers switching from eating in and takeaway options during lockdowns and tiering, rather than...

Taco Bell Puts Nacho Fries Back On the Menu for The Second Time in 2020 

Taco Bell's Nacho Fries will be available nationwide at participating locations for a limited time starting December 24 for the second time this year.

"In a year as difficult and uncertain as this one was, we know that consumers crave the comforts they love most. That's why we're excited to bring back Nacho Fries for our passionate fans to close out this year and kick off 2021 positively and deliciously," said Nikki Lawson, Taco Bell's Chief Global Brand Officer. "The magic of the Nacho Fries franchise extends beyond...

Yum China Reports Third Quarter 2020 Results

Yum China Holdings, Inc. reported unaudited results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak and Mitigation Efforts

Third quarter operations improved, although still impacted by reduced traffic at transportation and tourist locations, the delayed and shortened school holiday and the other lingering effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Dine-in volume has been recovering, while delivery and takeaway remained popular options. The Company's primary focus continues to be safety, efficiency and driving traffic. We launched attractive digital and membership campaigns with...

DoorDash And Taco Bell Announce Nationwide Partnership

DoorDash and Taco Bell announced their new partnership across over 5,500 locations nationwide. In celebration of the partnership, starting October 15, registered DoorDash users can get 50 percent off Taco Bell’s biggest nachos box ever, the Nachos Party Pack, with a $0 delivery fee when they spend $15 or more. The deal is exclusively available on DoorDash beginning October 15 through October 24.

“We’re excited to team up with DoorDash to give our fans the ability to satisfy their cravings for Taco Bell more easily,” said Nikki Lawson, Taco Bell’s Chief Global Brand Officer. “Growing delivery has always been a priority for the brand and through this partnership...