Taco Bell joins the meatless trend with new vegetarian menu across US

Yum! Brands has announced the expansion of Voice AI technology across Taco Bell drive-thru locations in the U.S., targeting hundreds of stores by the end of 2024. 

The Company aspires to implement Voice AI technology in drive-thrus at its brands globally in the future.

“Yum! Brands is integrating digital and technology into all aspects of our business with exciting new capabilities, and AI is a core piece of that strategy,” said Lawrence Kim, Chief Innovation Officer, Yum! Brands by adding that they are expanding and accelerating their AI capabilities like Voice AI to deliver leading-edge technologies to their franchisees and to enhance the consumer and team member experience. 

“With over two years of fine tuning and testing the drive-thru Voice AI technology, we’re confident in its effectiveness in optimizing operations and enhancing customer satisfaction,” he added.

The rollout of Voice AI technology in Taco Bell, currently in more than 100 Taco Bell U.S. drive-thrus across 13 states, is designed to enhance back-of-house operations for team members and elevate the order experience for consumers. Benefits include easing task load for team members, improving order accuracy, providing a consistent, friendly experience, and reducing wait times, while driving profitable growth for Taco Bell, Yum! Brands and their franchisees. 

Yum! Brands and Taco Bell have collaborated closely, including incorporating input from Taco Bell franchisees, so that Voice AI benefits both team members and consumers. 

This technology takes advantage of Taco Bell’s strong drive-thru customer experience ecosystem, which is powered by digital menu boards, Yum! Brands’ propriety Poseidon POS system and the next generation of the Taco Bell Rewards loyalty program which the brand is excited to integrate later this year. 

The Voice AI technology uses a holistic approach that leverages feedback, data, and insights to enhance consumer relationships with an emphasis on intuitive, user-friendly technology to create a seamless ordering experience.

“Innovation is ingrained in our DNA at Taco Bell, and we view Voice AI as a means to improve the team member and consumer experiences,” said Dane Mathews, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Taco Bell. 

In addition to the expansion of Voice AI across Taco Bell U.S. drive-thrus, five KFC restaurants in Australia are simultaneously testing Voice AI technology in drive-thrus, which is also being positively received by consumers and restaurant team members. 

Owners and operators of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, Yum Restaurants India is planning to exit quick service restaurant giant Devyani International by selling a 4.4 per cent interest in a block sale on Wednesday, shared reports.

According to the reports, with this, Yum Restaurants expects to raise around Rs 815 crore from the deal.

The floor price for the sale has been set at Rs 153.5 per share, which represents an almost 8 per cent reduction to the current pricing.

Devyani International’s shares closed 0.6 per cent higher at Rs 166.20 on the National Stock Exchange.

As of 31 December, Yum Restaurants owned more than 5 crore shares in Devyani International. Yum Restaurants acquired 4.41 per cent of Devyani International in September 2021.

Devyani International’s stock has risen by more than 7 per cent during the last year.

Devyani International, which manages the KFC and Pizza Hut restaurant franchises in India, announced disappointing results for the December quarter, with consolidated earnings falling 87 per cent to Rs 9.6 crore. The company’s sales increased by barely 7 per cent YoY to Rs 843 crore.

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DRG (Diversified Restaurant Group) renowned as a major Taco Bell franchisee with a portfolio of 325 establishments is set to inaugurate its seventh Taco Bell Cantina.

This unique fast casual variant of the brand, known for offering alcoholic beverages, will open its doors in San Jose, California, precisely located at Westfield Oakridge Mall (925 Blossom Hill Rd., Suite 1641).

The site showcases a nostalgic appearance, adorned with a classic movie theater display case, and includes three self-service ordering kiosks, a convenient pick-up window, and an outdoor seating area capable of hosting up to 24 patrons.

This information was shared by SG Ellison, who serves as both a Taco Bell franchise owner and the CEO of Diversified Restaurant Group.

He expressed in an official company statement, "The recent introduction of the Taco Bell Cantina in San Jose brings valuable enhancement to the local neighborhood, presenting customers with heightened comfort and options to enjoy meals within the premises, place delivery orders, or swiftly retrieve takeout requests."

He further noted the unique appeal of this location, as patrons have the opportunity to conveniently savor Taco Bell delights and Twisted Freeze beverages prior to or after shopping or catching a new film at the impressive Century Theatre situated within the Westfield Oakridge Mall.

More than 30 Taco Bell Cantina establishments are currently in operation throughout the United States.

Taco Bell, the renowned global brand known for its Mexican-inspired cuisine, has unveiled the introduction of its Indian Desi Menu.

This fusion of flavors aims to connect the offerings of Mexican-inspired fast-food with the varied preferences of Indian consumers.

The Indian Desi Menu presents an assortment of choices. like the creamy Paneer Makhni Taco to Butter Chicken Taco and Chicken Seekh Kebab Taco.

Each item has been crafted using a combination of exclusive ingredients, thoughtfully complemented by a mix of fresh vegetables, all nestled within a warm and fluffy chalupa bread or served in a wonderfully soft shell.

“With the introduction of the ‘Indian Desi Menu’ we are thrilled to offer our consumers something culturally desi, crazy and delicious. As we continue to expand our footprint across the country, it becomes imperative to bring about an offering that bridges the gap between the rich flavours of Indian cuisine and the beloved taco concept Taco Bell is renowned for.” said, Gaurav Burman, Director, Burman Hospitality Private Limited, Taco Bell’s exclusive franchise partner in India.

The company is enthusiastic about launching an engaging online campaign, showcasing the menu via a digital video accessible on diverse social media channels.

The Indian Desi Menu is now accessible at all Taco Bell outlets across India, with prices starting at a mere INR 165*.

Yum! Brands Inc has appointed Brett Biggs, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Walmart Inc., and Susan Doniz, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Information Technology & Data Analytics of The Boeing Company, to its Board of Directors, effective August 10, 2023.

“Brett and Susan bring deep leadership experience and proven track records driving performance and innovation for well-known customer-oriented and technology-centric companies, making them outstanding additions to the Yum! Brands Board,” said Brian Cornell, Chairman of the Yum! Brands Board of Directors and Chairman and CEO of Target Corporation. 

“Brett’s impressive background leading global finance, corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions at one of the world’s most iconic and customer-focused retailers positions him perfectly to contribute to the Yum! Board and help shape our future growth and performance,” said David Gibbs, Chief Executive Officer, Yum! Brands. 

Yum! will also benefit from Brett’s experience in global operations and digital transformation as we continue to prioritize initiatives that strengthen operational execution, accelerate digital sales and provide great experiences for their customers and restaurant team members.

Gibbs continued, “Susan has strong expertise in adopting new, cutting-edge technologies and leveraging agile digital solutions and data analytics capabilities to drive business growth and support customer needs. Her wealth of knowledge will be invaluable as we pursue our bold goal of powering 100 percent of our sales by digital and investing in technologies that enable easy experiences for customers, easy operations in restaurants and easy insights to accelerate profitable growth for Yum! and our franchisees.”
 

Yum! Brands, Inc. has announced the latest step in the Company’s strategy to enhance the digital experiences of customers by selecting Treasure Data™ as its Customer Data Platform provider to help drive customer acquisition, growth and retention.

Many Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) have unknown diners in their customer base, and being able to personalize marketing to them is important in order to increase brand loyalty and frequency. Treasure Data’s advanced AI and machine learning capabilities can provide rich, actionable insights that deliver engaging, personalized content to customers.

The Treasure Data Customer Data Cloud is designed to unify all first-, second- and third-party data, creating a single view of a customer across multiple brands. The data unification and enrichment are designed to help discover unknown audiences and will assist in achieving a centralized view of customer data across the Yum! Brands concepts.

“This is the latest advancement in our strategy to drive toward enhanced digital experiences and deliver exceptional value to our customers, as the company remains focused on our vision to have 100% of sales powered by digital,” said Cameron Davies, Chief Data Officer, Yum! Brands by adding that treasure data’s state-of-the-art CDP solution brings unparalleled capabilities to unify, manage and activate customer data across our four brands and third-party platforms, empowering our ability to gain deep insights into customer behavior and preferences.

Powered by its global scale, Yum! Brands is investing in technologies that enable easy experiences for customers, easy operations for restaurant teams and easy insights to drive outsized growth. The company’s strategy is to build in-house, acquire or partner on technologies that provide a strategic advantage. While Yum! is focused on owning the majority of its tech solutions, it does partner with select third-party tech providers like Treasure Data.

“Yum! has built some of the most loved and trusted brands in the world, and they know the importance of understanding customer needs,” added Kazuki Ohta, CEO and co-founder, Treasure Data.

Yum! Brands, Inc. has announced the promotion of Sean Tresvant to Taco Bell Division Chief Executive Officer, reporting to Yum! Brands Chief Executive Officer David Gibbs, effective January 1, 2024.

Tresvant, who currently serves as Global Chief Brand and Strategy Officer of Taco Bell, will succeed Mark King, who has announced his decision to retire at the end of 2023.

As CEO, Tresvant will assume global responsibility for driving Taco Bell’s growth strategies, franchise operations and overall performance.

“Sean is a visionary business leader and best-in-class brand builder who is driving transformative R.E.D. (relevant, easy, distinctive) sales-powering efforts, from omni-channel initiatives to digital customer touchpoints, to accelerate growth and further elevate and differentiate the Taco Bell fan and team member experience,” said Gibbs.

Tresvant joined Taco Bell in January 2022 as Global Chief Brand Officer. He was promoted to an expanded role as Global Chief Brand and Strategy Officer earlier this year, focused on developing perspective and ambition for long-term global growth.

As Global Chief Brand and Strategy Officer of Taco Bell, Tresvant has overseen the brand’s Strategy, Food Innovation, Architecture and Design and Global Communications functions as well as the Taco Bell International business. During his time with Taco Bell, Tresvant has set a powerful strategic framework that has created iconic moments within culture and driven massive awareness and buzz for the brand, including several high-profile celebrity partnerships and the return of the fan favorite Mexican Pizza. Prior to joining Taco Bell, Tresvant spent more than 15 years in leadership roles at Nike including Chief Marketing Officer of the Jordan Brand.

“The love our fans and team members have for Taco Bell is extraordinary and means we’re in a unique position to push the limits on culture and become a brand that inspires and enables the world to Live Más,” said Tresvant.

Atlanta-based QSR operator Southpaw has acquired abouty 40 Taco Bell locations in the Atlanta market.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, as per the release.

With this new additions, Southpaw, which is one of the largest franchisee of Taco Bell in the region now has ownership of 115 locations across five states.

The brand also owns a series of Dunkin' locations.

Southpaw owns 180 total restaurants in eight states with sales of more than $300 annually, reported QSRweb.com.

"We are thrilled to deepen our strong relationship with Taco Bell and our footprint within this iconic brand. Taco Bell combines segment dominance with market-leading profits, consistent menu innovation and disruptive marketing. There are few QSR concepts which have exhibited more post-pandemic resilience than Taco Bell," shared Judd Wishnow, Co-Founder & CEO, Southpaw.

"Our acquisition in Atlanta gives us a network of locations that we believe will benefit from our operating strategies and unique ability to capitalize on white space in the market for new development. We could not be happier with the growth of our Taco Bell platform, and we look forward to continued expansion, as we seek to create additional value for our stakeholders,” he added.

Southpaw franchisee has earlier acquired 34 Mid-Atlantic locations in December 2021.

Mexican-inspired restaurant chain Taco Bell has introduced Naked Veggie Taco - a disruptive, plant-based protein option in its diverse menu that compliments the existing fan-favorite, Naked Chicken Taco.

Encouraging consumers to #GetNaked, the brand is also launching a digital campaign to highlight the family of Naked taco offerings.

“Taco Bell® India has established itself as the most innovative QSR in the country. I am delighted to announce that Taco Bell® India is today launching the delicious Naked Veggie Taco, our Plant-based Protein signature Taco to compliment the Naked Chicken Taco which has become one of our leading products,” shared Gaurav Burman, Director, Burman Hospitality Private Limited, Taco Bell’s exclusive franchise partner in India by adding that the group worked hard to create a vegetarian option that was as delicious, nutritious, and unique as their Naked Chicken Taco.

The new Naked Veggie Taco has a shell made entirely out of plant-based protein. A crusted and spice coated protein patty, its fried shell is made up of peas, corn, and nutritious soya. Layered with nacho cheese sauce with the filling of lettuce and signature Mexican Pico de Gallo - a tangy tomato and onion mix- along with the goodness of the two-cheese blend makes it a craveable combination.

The Naked Veggie Taco is available with Unlimited Pepsi at all Taco Bell restaurants across India for just INR 199*.

Emboldening the customers to #GetNaked, Taco Bell® India is urging everyone to substitute the traditionally boxed pizza and fried chicken offerings with the deliciously unique Naked Veggie and Naked Chicken tacos, respectively.

The brand has also released a digital film on its social media platforms that showcases the tantalizing creations and gives viewers a mouthwatering glimpse of both offerings.

In 2019, Burman Hospitality became the master franchisee for Taco Bell India. Burman Hospitality aims to have a pan India presence with more than 600 outlets by 2029. 

Mexican QSR chain Taco Bell has on-boarded cricket all-rounder and youth-icon Hardik Pandya as its first ever brand ambassador in India.

For Hardik’s first campaign with the brand, he will be seen promoting Taco Bell’s® partnership with Microsoft Xbox for a month-long giveaway. To bolster participation in the contest and ensure active consumer engagement, the brand will go-live with multiple digital activations throughout the month, featuring Hardik Pandya.

To kick off the campaign with the all-rounder, Taco Bell® has launched an engaging digital film that captures the collaboration for its audiences. 

In its third year, this collaboration between Taco Bell® and Microsoft Xbox will run from 3^rd April 2023 till 30^th April 2023 wherein Taco Bell® fans and gaming enthusiasts can place order at Taco Bell® via dine-in or delivery app and aggregators and stand a chance to win the Xbox Series S, 12-month game pass.

“I’m excited to partner with a super cool brand like Taco Bell as their first brand ambassador in India. I’m a big foodie. Whenever I can, I feast on their tacos. I’m sure the consumers will enjoy the innovative experience Taco Bell offers in this campaign. I look forward to being a part of this journey with Taco Bell across their partnership with Microsoft Xbox,” shared Pandya.

“Hardik Pandya is one of the world’s greatest cricket superstars, a brilliant athlete, and a wonderful role model. Taco Bell India is honoured and delighted that as a result of his love for our food and brand he has agreed to become Taco Bell India’s first Brand Ambassador. Taco Bell India has over 130 stores and is adding a new store every 100 hours, our success has been a result of our focus on delivering our customers the most innovative food at the most affordable prices.,” added Gaurav Burman, Director, Burman Hospitality, Taco Bell’s Master Franchise Partner in India.

The Taco Bell® App and website will also provide the participants with extensive and explicit terms and conditions. To be eligible for the giveaway, consumers can either place an order with their valid 10-digit mobile number, for delivery via the Taco Bell® App or food aggregators, dine-in at any nearby restaurant or opt for Takeaway.  

The brand will give-away 28 Xbox Series S gaming consoles and 12-month game pass to the lucky winners for this installment of the collaboration.

QSR chain Taco Bell has opened its doors to its latest Cantina restaurant experience in the heart of Los Angeles, bringing the vibrant atmosphere to the iconic palm tree-lined, Hollywood Boulevard community.

"We're excited to be part of LA history with the continued expansion of our Cantina concept," said Taco Bell President and Global COO, Mike Grams by adding that these flexible formats are bringing iconic Taco Bell experiences to their fans across America, made possible by strong partnerships with their franchisees and the best restaurant teams.

"Taco Bell Cantinas continue to embody the spirit of the community, with our latest Hollywood location delivering an immersive, craveable brand experience to our Los Angeles guests," said Brian Cox, Owner of C&R Restaurant Group, one of Taco Bell's franchisees.

The site, formerly a bookstore to the starts, includes: digital ordering; a movie screen and DJ ready speakers; merchandise; a footprint on a historic landmark and an improved team member experience.

"We're continuing to push the boundaries and innovate for communities hungry for elevated dining experiences from quick-service restaurants they love, and our new Hollywood Cantina is poised to be a guest favorite," added Mark Reed, Owner of C&R Restaurant Group.

Yum! Brands Inc has reported for the fourth-quarter and year ended December 31, 2022.

The group recorded 4^th quarter GAAP EPS was $1.29, an increase of 17%. Fourth-quarter EPS excluding Special Items was $1.31, an increase of 29%. Full-year GAAP EPS was $4.57, a decrease of (12)%. Full-year EPS excluding Special Items was $4.51, an increase of 1%. Full-year GAAP Operating Profit growth was 2%. Full-year Core Operating Profit1 growth was 6%, including a 2-point headwind from the removal of Russia profits.

“2022 was a landmark year for Yum! as we beat our own industry record for unit development, opening an incredible 4,560 gross new units. Despite a challenging environment, we achieved widespread system sales growth of 8% excluding Russia with $24 billion in digital sales, demonstrating that our iconic brands are more relevant, easy and distinctive than ever,” shared David Gibbs, CEO.

Worldwide system sales grew 8% excluding foreign currency translation, with KFC at 6%, Taco Bell at 14%, and Pizza Hut at 4%.

The brand also repurchased 4.1 million shares totalling $486 million at an average price per share of $119.

Foreign currency translation unfavourably impacted divisional operating profit by $42 million.

KFC Division opened 997 gross new restaurants during the quarter, Taco Bell Division opened 253 gross new restaurants and Pizza Hut Division opened 571 gross new restaurants during the quarter.

“Our fiscal 2022 results delivered on our raised long-term growth algorithm with record-setting net new unit growth and 4% same-store sales growth. Despite inflationary pressures and a 2-point negative impact from Russia, we delivered 6% Core Operating Profit growth – a testament to the strength of our enterprise. We remain focused on executing the strategies underlying our Recipe for Good Growth to drive our business forward. I'm also pleased to announce our Board of Directors approved an increased quarterly dividend of $0.605,” added Chris Turner, CFO, Yum! Brands.

One of the largest Canada-based restaurant operator Redberry Restaurants has partnered with Taco Bell to build out 200 units in Canada, making it the largest Taco Bell franchisee in the country.

Redberry currently operates 14 Taco Bell locations across Ontario. The units are expected to be built within the next eight years, reported QSRWeb.com.

"We're excited to 'Make it Happen. Our team is committed to achieving what we say we're going to do. This has led brands to invest in us and trust us to deliver. The opportunity to lead the expansion of the beloved Taco Bell brand north of the border is truly an honor,” shared Ken Otto, CEO, Redberry Restaurants.

The group is targeting to open outlets across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

"Over the past few years, we have seen what Redberry can do with our brand. We recognize how different the Canadian market is and Redberry has proven themselves as an undisputed leader in operational excellence in the Canadian QSR industry. We couldn't be happier to partner with Redberry as Taco Bell's Canadian brand ambassadors,” added Matthew Shaw, chief development officer, Taco Bell North America.

Redberry has 170-plus restaurants across Canada, operating Burger King, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands.

Mexican inspired restaurant Taco Bell has introduced Cheesy G Taco - a delicious new limited-time offering to its existing diverse menu.

The new Cheesy G Taco is a craveable combination of soft, cheesy and crunchy in one wholesome offering an overload of textures and flavors. The warm, soft flatbread, layered with nacho cheese is wrapped around a crunchy taco that is filled with seasoned stuffing, zesty ranch sauce and crispy lettuce.

The Cheesy G Taco is a limited time offering, available with Unlimited Pepsi at all Taco Bell restaurants across India at INR 99 for the vegetarian variant and INR 119 for the non-vegetarian variant.

Gaurav Burman, Director, Burman Hospitality Private Limited, Taco Bell’s exclusive franchise partner in India, said, “Taco Bell, India, constantly strives to offer our consumers the best, innovative, and craveable value-offerings. The Cheesy G Taco is the ultimate combination of soft, cheesy, and crunchy layers making it a unique experience for all food lovers. We are excited to be launching this product and are certain that anyone who tries the Cheesy G Taco will fall in love with it.”

Engaging consumers with the exciting new launch is a digital campaign, amplifying the “Three Layers Awesomeness” in the Cheesy G Taco. This indulgent and decadent offering has been brought to life in the brand’s latest digital film, released on its social media platforms.

The Cheesy G Taco is available for a limited-time, December 2022 – February 2023, across all Taco Bell restaurants in India, and take-away.

Taco Bell operates over 7000 restaurants in more than 30 markets including the United States, with the expansion still continuing across the globe.   

Burman Hospitality entered into a strategic partnership with Taco Bell with a vision to establish the world’s largest Mexican Inspired food chain in India. In 2019, Burman Hospitality became the master franchisee for Taco Bell India. Burman Hospitality aims to have a pan India presence with more than 600 outlets by 2029. 

Operator of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Hobbit Burger globally, Yum! Brands has recorded a strong Q3 result driven by high performance at KFC and Taco Bell.

The brand also missed Wall Street’s earnings estimates and has beaten quarterly revenue expectations.

Same store sales rose at its KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell chains. Yum executives said that consumers generally haven’t been changing their behavior, and that more premium menu items in the U.S. are proving popular.

Yum! Brands overall system sales grew at 7 per cent whereas that of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell grew at 8, 9 and 4 per cent respectively.

Same store sales at KFC and Taco Bell that performed better this quarter rise at 7 and 6 per cent respectively.

Total system sales of Yum! Brands stood at $14,543 mllion.

Third quarter also reported net-new unit growth of 644 stores.

Present in over 293 countries, Yum! Operates 53,994 restaurants across globe.

One of the world’s most famous Mexican-inspired restaurant, Taco Bell, is celebrating its 100th restaurant milestone in India.

The brand has ambitious growth plans for the country and aims to open 600 restaurants in India over the next few years. 

India has become the fastest-growing market for Taco Bell International and amongst the largest market outside of US, where the first Taco Bell opened in 1962.

“We are delighted to celebrate the milestone 100th Taco Bell opening in India with our incredibly loyal fans. We are truly grateful for their passion, and endeavor to bring our distinctive Taco Bell experience to more fans across the country. Fueled by our loyal and growing customer base, we are on an exciting journey to open 600 restaurants in India in the medium term,” shared Ankush Tuli, Managing Director, Taco Bell APAC.

Celebrating this milestone, Taco Bell is bringing an exclusive 3-day offer starting from 31^st August to 2^nd September across all its 100 restaurants in India. For the limited time price of just INR 100, customers can enjoy their choice of special menu offerings including Tacos, Burritos, Chalupas, Nachos, and many more from the A la Carte Menu as well as the specialty sides menu.

The offer will be available on dine-in, takeaway and delivery channels including Taco Bell’s own app.

Taco Bell will be celebrating its 100-restaurant milestone with its top fans across 19 cities in India and few lucky consumers will also get a chance to receive exclusive brand merchandise.

“I am humbled and grateful to our loyal fans and customers that have supported the Taco Bell brand in India. I am also extremely grateful to the whole team at Burman Hospitality and our partners at Taco Bell International who have, through their hard work allowed us to reach the milestone 100^th store. We promise our customers that we will continue to offer the unique, innovative, and craveable menu offerings that our fans have embraced. We are currently opening a new store every 80 hours and working hard to get to our next milestone of 600 stores in India,” added Gaurav Burman, Director, Burman Hospitality Private Limited, Taco Bell’s franchisee partner.

As a part of their accelerated growth strategy, Taco Bell is now present across 19 cities and continues to expand their presence across Indian cities including Lucknow, Guwahati, Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad amongst other markets.

Taco Bell’s iconic Crunchy Taco shell and New York-based dessert company Milk Bar’s famous truffles are fusing together to form the all-new Strawberry Bell Truffle.

Bringing both brands together with familiar-yet-unexpected treats, the summer-friendly dessert aims to bring the best of both brands’ innovations to life.

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration for the brands, the truffle will be testing at Taco Bell and Milk Bar outposts in two major markets.

“A collab with our brilliant friends at Taco Bell has been on my bucket list for some time,” said Christina Tosi, Chef and Founder of Milk Bar.

The sweet and salty treat will be available in-stores as a two truffle package for $2.99 beginning August 3 until August 16, or until supplies last, at one Taco Bell restaurant in Orange County, CA (14042 Red Hill Ave., Tustin, CA 92780) and at two of Milk Bar’s flagship locations in the Nomad neighborhood of New York, NY (1196 Broadway at 29th Street, New York, NY 10001) and on Melrose in Los Angeles, CA (7150 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046).

“The Strawberry Bell Truffle is the first mashup of its kind to be served to consumers on a large, test scale from our brands. This one-of-a-kind truffle is the friendship-fueled fruition of a concept made possible by a mutual dedication to innovation,” said Rene Pisciotti, Executive Chef at Taco Bell Corp.

The strawberry and corn flavor combination has been a years-long concept in the works for the culinary teams, as past collaborations at closed door celebrations sparked the desire to share these same test kitchen creations for fans on a wider scale.

Taco Bell is redefining drive-thrus as consumers know it with one of its most innovative Taco Bell restaurant designs yet.

Coined “Taco Bell Defy,” the restaurant that broke ground last summer will open its doors – but most importantly, its four-lane drive-thru – in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on June 7.

The first of its kind two-story model delivers innovative technology and design, like a proprietary vertical lift to transport iconic craveable Taco Bell menu items straight from the kitchen to fans.

“Taco Bell Defy is an incredible innovation for our brand, and one that’s meeting our consumer in a really unique way. For decades we’ve been committed to providing a fast, safe and friendly drive-thru experience; now with our bold goal of creating a 2 minute or less drive-thru experience for customers of this concept, Taco Bell Defy is the future,” said Mike Grams, Taco Bell President and Global COO.

From digital check-in screens for mobile order customers’ unique QR codes, to a two-way audio and video technology service for customers to talk to team members on the second floor, Taco Bell Defy boasts many features that could show up in future Taco Bell restaurants in the US.

In the meantime, and in partnership with long-time franchisee Border Foods, the teams are considering potential retrofits that could be made to several of Taco Bell Defy’s neighboring restaurants.

Starting 16^th May to 20^th May from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, fans in India will be able to swap their ordinary meals for a craveable Taco Bell taco all part of the brands’ international ‘Taco Swap’ campaign across 25+ markets.

Whether it’s lackluster lunches or dull dinners, Taco Bell is disrupting what it means to have a less-than-exciting meal with the opportunity to swap the mundane for something más exciting: a Taco Bell taco!

“Over the years, Taco Bell has created a distinct identity amongst the Indian audience and today, we have a loyal community of taco-lovers across the country. With the Taco Swap campaign, we aim to deepen consumer engagement and encourage consumers to swap their meal for a free taco during the lunch hours,” shared Gaurav Burman, director, Burman Hospitality, Taco Bell’s Master Franchise Partner in India.

By finding the nearest Taco Bell and visiting during lunch hours, consumers can redeem a Crunchy Taco starting on 16^th May to 20^th May by dine-in or take away from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

The Crunchy Taco is a signature product available in vegetarian and non-vegetarian variants, served with chef recommended Pinto Beans & Spicy Ranch Sauce.

Taco Swap is the continuation of Taco Bell’s first global marketing campaign, ‘#ISEEATACO’ that began with Taco Moon in May 2021.

While rumors of the Mexican Pizza’s return have been swirling for months, it hasn’t been publicly confirmed, until now.

Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza is back as recording artist Doja Cat announced last weekend that the popular menu item is back on its menu, shared a release from Taco Bell.

But, Doja wasn't the only fan who played a role in bringing back the Mexican Pizza. Equally vocal with their pleas for the menu items return were 200K+ signers of a Change.Org petition, spearheaded by superfan Krish Jagirdar. Leading up to the May 19 return, fans can expect even more ways to get involved with its historical return.

“Like many Indian-Americans who grew up vegetarian, we had limited access to the ‘fun’ fast food, so Taco Bell became a bridge to belonging in American culture for many kids like me who grew up in immigrant households,” said Krish Jagirdar, super fan and organizer of the Change.Org petition.

Mexican Pizza was pulled from menus in 2020. To expedite its return, Taco Bell has been dedicated to improving its sustainability practices, including a sauce packet recycling program pilot in the US with TerraCycle as the brand tracks towards its 2025 commitment for all recyclable, compostable or reusable consumer facing packaging.

As an IOU, Taco Bell Rewards Members who received a mystery reward back during the Big Game will score a free Mexican Pizza when it's back May 19*, and loyalty members will get first dibs with early access to the menu item beginning May 17.

“Our menu is full of fan-favorites, but the Mexican Pizza is at the top of that list,” said Mark King, CEO of Taco Bell by adding that from its flashy introduction to menus in 1985 as ‘Pizzazz Pizza’ to its inspiration behind the creation of infamous jingles, Mexican Pizza has a long history with the brand.

For fans wishing to snag a Mexican Pizza without leaving their home, customers can enjoy the convenience of delivery exclusively through DoorDash for the first week the iconic menu item is back (May 19 – May 26), rolling out to other delivery platforms beginning on May 27.

QSR-chain Taco Bell has launched ‘Cheese Max Box’ - a wholesome experience for all cheese lovers.

This innovative meal box is a new and indulgent offering that is designed to delight consumers, encouraging them to go-all in on cheese and conveniently savour their favourite offerings in one single box.

The go-to combo comprises of four items – The Ultimate Cheese Taco, Mini Quesadilla-Cheese, Cheesy Seasoned Nachos & Unlimited Pepsi.

The ‘Cheese Max Box’ is priced at INR 349 (for vegetarian variant) and INR 399 (for non-vegetarian variant).

“At Taco Bell, we endeavor to stay true to our consumer-first promise and constantly provide novel experiences that our consumers cherish. The idea behind creating an all-in-one offering is to cater to the evolving consumer preferences and drive more tastings,” said Tushar Mehta, Assistant Vice President – Marketing, Burman Hospitality Private Limited, Taco Bell’s exclusive franchise partner in India.

Head to your nearest Taco Bell restaurant or simply order online (via the Taco Bell App or food aggregators) and call for the ‘Cheese Max Box’ to get in on some cheesilicious action. 

Everyone loves a comeback and that’s why Taco Bell and Klondike have partnered yet again to offer customers one of the most iconic frozen treats of all time: the Klondike Choco Taco.

Starting today, the Choco Taco will be testing exclusively at 20 select Los Angeles and Milwaukee Taco Bell locations for a limited time while supplies last.

"We're excited to reunite with our partners at Klondike and test the iconic Choco Taco with today’s consumer,” said Taco Bell’s Global Chief Food Innovation Officer, Liz Matthews who is bringing back a nostalgic favorite after seven year, during the QSR chain’s 60th anniversary.For those unfamiliar with this ice cream and taco mashup, Klondike Choco Taco mirrors the Bell’s iconic tacos in the form of a fan favorite frozen treat; with a crunchy, thick-coated chocolatey outside, and an unmistakable creamy, fudge-swirled inside topped with peanuts, sure to thrill tastebuds with every bite.

“For decades, we’ve been asking fans what they would do for a Klondike,” said Russel Lilly, Vice President, Unilever Ice Cream United States. “In the year of Klondike’s 100th anniversary, we’re kicking things up a notch by bringing our products to fans in new and unexpected places. We’re thrilled to partner with Taco Bell to help bring the Klondike Choco Taco to taco lovers that would do just about anything for this sweet treat,” he added.

QSR chain Taco Bell is kicking off 2022 by surpassing international milestones abroad as it opens 100th restaurant in Spain.

The taco-chain opened its first restaurant outside the states in 1973, and in just the last two years, the brand has grown its store count by more than 25%.

With growth plans as strong as ever, Taco Bell and its international franchisees have plans to operate more than 1,000 restaurants internationally.

"Our international franchise partners and team members in Taco Bell restaurants around the world fuel the fire of our brand and are a huge testament to what we are building together," said Julie Felss Masino, President, Taco Bell International by adding that with the partnership of people like Spain master franchisee, Ignacio Mora-Figueroa, their international expansion to 1,000 restaurants outside the U.S. allows them a bigger footprint to create more fans around the world.

As one of Taco Bell’s fastest growing markets outside the U.S., Spain has now opened the doors to its 100th restaurant.

Upon completion of this year’s Spain restaurant openings alone, the brand expects to contribute over 2,000 jobs to the local economy, and even more indirect jobs through expanded supply chain and vendor needs.

Later this year, restaurant doors will continue to open in major cities across India, Australia and the UK. These three additional international markets are accelerating quickly, reaching growth milestones of their own.

The brand’s leading digital innovation has only accelerated international expansion milestones like these.

Taco Bell’s digital sales are the highest of all Yum! Brands international businesses, surpassing 50% growth year over year. Taco Bell UK now drives 60% of its business through digital -- the highest of any international market.

Yum China Holdings, Inc, has announced that the Top Employers Institute has certified the company as a Top Employer China for the fourth consecutive year, with Yum China the only restaurant company named among the top 20 employers.

In 2021, as the challenges of COVID-19 continued, Yum China adhered firmly to its "People First" philosophy, further upgrading employee benefits and striving to support sustainable career development for over 400,000 employees.

"We are proud to be named as a Top Employer China for the fourth consecutive year, a recognition of our continuous efforts to create an industry leading sustainable workplace," said Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China by adding that he is grateful to his employees for the diligence and resilience they have shown in their day-to-day work.

Despite the challenges brought by the resurgences of COVID-19 outbreaks in 2021, Yum China continued to place top priority on the health and safety of employees and further upgraded employee benefits. This included upgrading medical insurance coverage for its approximately 10,000 Restaurant General Managers ("RGMs") and upgrading its "Family Care Fund" plan for the restaurant management team (RMT) and restaurant service team leaders, helping eligible employees and their families mitigate the financial risks brought by critical illness.

To further protect the health and safety of employees and customers, Yum China encourages and rewards employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. As of the end of December 2021, over 90% of all Yum China employees were fully vaccinated.

"People is one of the three pillars of Yum China's sustainability strategy. The cmpany is committed to accelerating employee growth guided by our principle of Fair, Care and Pride," added Aiken Yuen, Chief People Officer of Yum China.

As of the end of September 2021, Yum China operated 11,415 restaurants and over 400,000 employees in over 1,600 cities across the country.

The Top Employers Institute program certifies organizations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey. The survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Well-being and Diversity & Inclusion and more.

In an effort to break down potential barriers and further diversify its franchise system, Taco Bell has announced that it is rolling out Taco Bell Business School in partnership with University of Louisville.

This will be a first-of-its-kind franchise training program to elevate restaurant leaders as entrepreneurs and break down barriers to franchise ownership.

Taco Bell Business School will be supported through the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence in partnership with the University of Louisville.

Yum!, Taco Bell’s parent company, launched the Center with University of Louisville’s College of Business in 2021 to unlock opportunities for underrepresented communities through education on the business of franchising.

The Taco Bell pilot program will leverage this partnership to create pathways for restaurant leaders to advance in their careers while helping the brand build a more diverse franchise system.

“We know that fast food jobs are often seen as stepping stones to other careers,” said Mark King, Chief Executive Officer of Taco Bell. “And we’re trying to change that. Through the Taco Bell Business School, we want to show our ambitious restaurant leaders how their careers could flourish at Taco Bell and see opportunities they may not have previously considered.”

The six-week business boot-camp will teach top-performing restaurant leaders the fundamentals of franchise ownership, leveraging existing curriculum from the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence, infused with a Taco Bell twist.

The classes will provide accredited education and training on critical business and entrepreneurial skills, from financing, growth and development to marketing and HR.

The first class of Taco Bell Business School students will start the boot-camp in February 2022.

“I believe that businesses and educational institutions have a responsibility to work together to break down barriers and create opportunities for those who wouldn’t otherwise have them,” said Kathy Gosser, Director of the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence.

QSR chain Taco Bell is doing the most to kick off 2022 with the nationwide debut of the Taco Lover’s Pass, a digital taco subscription service that takes value to the next level and is sure to satisfy any taco craving.

The same will be available on the Taco Bell app.

Taco Lover’s Pass allows fans to redeem one of seven iconic tacos a day for 30 consecutive days at participating U.S. locations, all for the price of $10*.

“There’s no better way to kick off 2022, especially Taco Bell’s 60th anniversary year, than by inviting our fans to enjoy our most iconic tacos every day for 30 days, all while underscoring our commitment to digital innovation and value,” said Zipporah Allen, Chief Digital Officer at Taco Bell.

To unlock the taco goods, users can simply purchase the pass via the app. After buying the pass, a secret category will unlock on the app menu, allowing fans to choose a taco and redeem in-restaurant.

The national launch of the Taco Lover’s Pass follows its successful September 2021 test in Tucson, Arizona, where many fans took advantage of the taco a day for 30 days. Amongst the Taco Lover’s Pass purchasers, 20 percent were new to the Taco Bell Rewards Program, and an additional 20 percent renewed for a second time with the fan favorite Doritos® Locos Tacos Supreme being the most redeemed taco.

Taco Bell has appointed Sean Tresvant as its Global Chief Brand Officer, effective January 10, 2022.

Tresvant will lead Taco Bell into a new age of transformative global marketing, spearheading boundary-pushing, multi-dimensional efforts that drive culture, initiate change and create impact.

From strategic omni channel initiatives to digital customer touchpoints, he will further elevate and differentiate the Taco Bell fan experience as the brand continues redefining innovation in its industry.

"I've known about Sean for many years, always admiring his best-in-class marketing from afar. His team at the Jordan Brand will tell you that Sean has always been a great friend, colleague and compassionate leader. We're excited for him to be part of our Taco Bell family and look forward to his leadership and Restless Creativity as we continue to grow our brand and impact on our people, fans and the world,” said Mark King, CEO, Taco Bell.

Tresvant brings more than a decade of marketing success from his time with Nike as the Chief Marketing Officer of the Jordan Brand. He was responsible for defining the Jordan Brand voice across the globe.

"When I think of Taco Bell, I think of a marketing powerhouse of trailblazers," said Tresvant.

Additional career highlights for Tresvant include leading an Emmy Award-winning Last Dance Documentary for Jordan Brand and developing and facilitating a Fortnite activation with Epic Games. Prior to Nike, Tresvant held roles at Pepsi and Time Inc. – Sports Illustrated in New York.

The largest franchisee of Yum Brands in India, Sapphire Food’s initial share-sale will open for public subscription on November 9.

The three-day initial public offering (IPO) will conclude on November 11, according to the red herring prospectus (RHP).

The initial share-sale will be entirely an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 17,569,941 equity shares by promoters and existing shareholders.

As a part of the OFS, QSR Management Trust will sell 8.50 lakh shares, Sapphire Foods Mauritius Ltd will offload 55.69 lakh shares, WWD Ruby Ltd will divest 48.46 lakh shares and Amethyst will offer 39.62 lakh shares.

In addition, AAJV Investment Trust will sell 80,169 shares, Edelweiss Crossover Opportunities Fund will offload 16.15 lakh shares and Edelweiss Crossover Opportunities Fund-Series II will divest 6.46 lakh shares.

According to market sources, the IPO is expected to fetch Rs 1,500-2,000 crore.

Backed by marquee investors such as Samara Capital, Goldman Sachs, CX Partners and Edelweiss, Samara Capital operate 204 KFC restaurants in India and the Maldives, 231 Pizza Hut restaurants in India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and two Taco Bell restaurants in Sri Lanka.

JM Financial, BofA Securities, ICICI Securities and IIFL Securities are the lead managers to the company's public issue. The equity shares of the company will be listed on BSE and NSE.

Californian quick-service restaurant chain Taco Bell is taking its latest campaign called ‘See A Six, Catch A Taco’ a notch-higher by collaborating with renowned cricketers and cricket commentators.

The brand has just launched a unique nation-wide campaign called ‘See A Six, Catch a Taco’ spreading joy to taco-lovers and cricket fans.

Every time the Indian cricket team hits a six, consumers can get a free taco on any order by sending a taco emoji on WhatsApp.

As a part of this campaign, the very first collaboration kick-started with the legendary commentator, Harsha Bhogle, who lent his voice for the brand film which will be going live across platforms such as Hotstar, PayTM, ESPN Cricinfo, Amazon Firestick, social media platforms and Gaming apps in addition to Out of Home visibility across metro cities.

The brand is also collaborating with women cricketers for the first time- Mithali Raj, Captain of the women’s Indian cricket team and the young and enthusiastic batter Harleen Deol, who will be creating fun loving and amusing content on social media to encourage their followers to participate in this unique campaign by watching out for the sixes hit by the Indian cricket team. Adding to the cricket fervor, Taco Bell is also partnering with Indian cricketer and commentator, Dinesh Karthik.

“We will be cheering on team India and celebrating every six by giving away free tacos to all our fans. We are delighted to partner with cricketing stars Dinesh Karthik, Mithali Raj & Harleen Deol, and commentary legend Harsha Bhogle,” shared Ankush Tuli, Managing Director, Asia Pacific & Middle East, YUM! Brands.

Commenting on the amplification, Gaurav Burman, Director, Burman Hospitality Private Limited, Taco Bell’s exclusive franchise partner in India, said, “We are proud to be collaborating with renowned cricketing icons for our latest campaign ‘See a Six, Catch a Taco’.  We shall be celebrating every six hit by team India by offering free tacos in a fun and unique way.”

This unique campaign kicked off on October 24, when India played their first match. One can avail this offer through a WhatsApp QR Code or URL created just for this campaign. The offer will be applicable on all India matches, semi-finals and the final.

Consumers can avail the free taco offer in any Taco Bell restaurant across the country or order online through the Taco Bell app to receive their free veg or non-veg Crunchy Taco, with a minimum of one item purchase.

Yum China has announced to promote balanced diets by offering customers more fruit and vegetable options.

The campaign was launched simultaneously on September 13 at over 6,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell stores nationwide, before gradually expanding to more stores.

A core component of the campaign is the "Fruit and Vegetables 100+" program that encourages customers to add at least 100g of fruit and vegetables to their meals.

KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell will also launch a series of new and updated fruit and vegetable based products in China, while leveraging their digital platforms to raise public awareness of nutrition and healthy eating.

As China's largest restaurant company, Yum China is committed to offering a wide variety of delicious and nutritious foods to customers. To achieve this, the Company focuses on food innovation, upgrading product offerings with recipe changes, using creative ingredient combinations, and adopting multiple cooking methods. For example, at KFC, approximately 80% of non-beverage breakfast menu items are made from the oven or other healthy cooking methods.

Yum China regularly reviews its ingredients and through ingredient optimization has reduced the amount of salt, sugar, and oil in its recipes. KFC alone eliminated about 118 tons of salt from its products between 2018 and the end of 2020. In addition, in 2020, Yum China became one of the first restaurant companies to introduce plant-based products to China when it launched plant-based beef burgers and chicken nuggets at KFC, plant-based beef burgers at Pizza Hut and plant-based beef and pork tacos at Taco Bell.

The latest campaign is designed to support recommendations outlined in the National Health Commission's Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents that adults require a daily intake of 300-500 grams of vegetables to maintain a balanced diet.

Everybody is rooting for a comeback these days, and Taco Bell is taking it to the next level during this year's NBA Finals, presented by YouTube TV, introducing a revamped version of their previous 'Steal a Game, Steal a Taco.'

This year's NBA Finals not only grant fans the opportunity to score a free taco*, but marks the highly anticipated return of the Flamin' Hot Doritos® Locos Tacos for a limited time, which was a crowd favorite following its initial introduction on menus in April 2020.

"We're thrilled to reignite our partnership with the league and spice up the NBA Finals even more by giving fans the chance to score a free taco regardless of which jersey they're wearing," said Nikki Lawson, Chief Global Brand Officer, Taco Bell by adding that the power of comebacks resonates more than ever, not only because we are turning the heat up in our kitchen to bring back the fan favorite Flamin' Hot Doritos Locos Tacos, but consumers are now able to enjoy this year's NBA Finals even more whether they're at home, in the arena or elsewhere.

This marks the first year for the 'NBA Comebacks' promotion as Taco Bell parts from its well-known 'Steal A Game, Steal A Taco' promotion, which first launched in 2016 when a road game was won in Game 3 of the NBA finals, winning everyone a free Doritos® Locos Tacos and tipping off a taco tradition for years to come.

"Through creating NBA Comebacks, Taco Bell is once again putting fans first and giving them even more reasons to tune in and follow the end of this historic season," said Lauren Sullivan, VP, Global Partnerships, NBA.

The 2021 NBA Finals start in July and could run as late as Game 7 on July 22. The first time an NBA Finals team is losing at halftime but comes back to win the game will score a free Flamin' Hot Doritos® Locos Tacos for Taco Bell customers across America. The Redemption Day details and official menu launch of the Flamin' Hot Doritos Locos Tacos will be shared at a later date following an NBA comeback.

Parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill restaurants, Yum Brands has announced that 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 1.5°C 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.

Yum!’s climate change strategy will focus primarily on emission reductions at its more than 50,000 corporate and franchise restaurants and throughout its supply chain.

By 2030, Yum! will cut GHG emissions generated by its corporate restaurants and offices, defined as Scope 1 and 2, 46% below 2019 levels. Working alongside franchisees, suppliers and producers, defined as Scope 3 or its value chain, Yum! will also reduce emissions 46% below 2019 levels during that same timeframe on a per-restaurant basis for franchisees and a per-metric ton basis for beef, poultry, dairy and packaging.

“Building resilient and trusted brands is at the core of Yum!’s citizenship and sustainability strategy, and this includes the work we do around the sustainable stewardship of our planet,” added Jerilan Greene, Yum! global chief communications and public affairs officer and chairman and CEO of the Yum! Foundation.

Yum! set its first energy conservation goal in 2006, and since 2017 it has reduced its GHG emissions an estimated 18% on a per-restaurant average. Sustainable restaurant development has also been a key element of Yum!’s sustainability strategy, building its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified green restaurant in 2009 and totaling 45 LEED-certified green restaurants globally to date. Key learnings and best practices from these restaurants have been implemented in thousands of locations around the world.

Yum! Restaurants India had an ‘exceptional quarter-basis value innovation and expanding digital channels’, shared David Gibbs, Global CEO, Yum! Brands in a post earnings call for the fourth quarter.

“India had another exceptional quarter with 12% same-store sales growth, ending the year with 10% same-store sales growth,” said Gibb by adding that the momentum is attributable to marketing around value innovation and expanding digital channels.

He also named India, Canada, Japan and Europe as markets with internationally strong sales momentum for the year.

Also, Yum! Restaurants, has picked up minority stake in its largest franchise partner RJ Corp-owned Devyani International (DIL). This follows DIL’s acquisition of 74 KFC restaurants from Yum! over the last 18 months.

“Yum! is looking at India as its next biggest bastion of growth after China, and the strategic equity investment strengthens our association with them,” said Ravi Jaipuria, Chairman, RJ Corp.

At present DIL operates 500 KFC and Pizza Hut stores in India.

Yum! Restaurants runs chicken fried brand KFC, Pizza Hut and Mexican restaurant Taco Bell in India with over 1000 restaurants running presently.

 “Over the next five years, DIL plans to invest over 1,000 crore in growing its brands including KFC, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee, Vaango and food courts,” shared Virag Joshi, President, Devyani International Limited.

Besides DIL, its other franchise partner in India is Sapphire Foods, that is owned by Samara Capital.

Taco Bell, the world’s leading Mexican-inspired restaurant brand, has launched its 50th restaurant in Bangalore at Mantri Square Mall, completing an important milestone in its India journey.

This milestone was achieved after Taco Bell’s announcement earlier this year, where the brand announced its collaboration with Burman Hospitality Private Limited (BHPL) as its Master Franchise Partner and committed to launching 600 restaurants in India by 2029.

Gaurav Burman, Director, Burman Hospitality Private Limited, said, “BHPL partnered with Taco Bell International for India in 2015. Over the last four years, we have had the good fortune of building a team of over 1,300 employees who have all worked tirelessly to deliver the best product and experience possible to our many loyal consumers. I am extraordinarily proud of what the team has achieved; they have innovated the offering, the food, the ambience and we now have the best casual dining offering in the country.”

Ankush Tuli, Managing Director of Taco Bell APAC, stated, “It gives us great pleasure to celebrate Taco Bell’s 50 restaurants in India with the newest launch in the city where our India journey started – Bangalore. We are extremely excited about this milestone as this achievement embodies the love and appreciation that our fans have shown us over the years.”

“We are grateful to have Burman Hospitality as our partners in India who have been instrumental in bringing Taco Bell’s unique social experience of food to life in India and we look forward to celebrating many more such milestones in partnership with them,” he added.

New Taco Bell in Bangalore

Taco Bell’s 50th restaurant is conveniently situated on the third-floor food court of the buzzing Mantri Square Mall.

The brand experience provides made-to-order and customizable tacos and burritos and other specialties with bold flavors, quality ingredients, breakthrough value, and best in class customer service.

Its extensive menu offers signature vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes like the Naked Chicken Taco, 7 Layer Burrito, Chickstar Wrap, and Cheese Quesadilla, as well as desserts including the iconic Chocodilla.

Taco Bell aims to make India largest market outside the US

Taco Bell’s association with Burman Hospitality Private Limited is targeted at making India its largest market outside the United States. The restaurant chain continues to expand rapidly, with a new restaurant being unveiled every 10 days.

Currently, Taco Bell has a presence in 11 key cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, and Mysore, among others.

Burman stated, “I could not be happier that we have hit the magnificent milestone of 50 restaurants with the opening of our Mantri Square Mall restaurant. We will continue to work feverishly to bring our offerings to the four corners of India and strive to open 600 restaurants by 2029, which means we are now launching a new restaurant every 10 days. We are hugely grateful to our customers without whom this journey would not have been possible.”

Yum! Brands, the owner of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, has announced former Walmart Executive Clay Johnson as its new Chief Digital and Technology Officer. The company has also promoted Gavin Felder to its Chief Strategy Officer.

The newly created positions will be working with the group’s chains to elevate the customer experience and accelerate global growth.

Clay Johnson was enterprise Chief Information Officer for retail giant Walmart.

Post joining, Johnson will oversee Yum! Brands’ global technology strategy, working with its three brands to improve mobile, online, delivery and restaurant operations.

Yum! said, “He would lead a coordinated, cross-brand effort to accelerate the company’s digital commerce strategy, use of data and advanced analytics and emerging technologies.”

Meanwhile, Gavin Felder was promoted from KFC, where he had been the division’s Chief Financial Officer for the past five years. Felder will be responsible to develop Yum’s long-term corporate strategies, working with the chains to find new sources of growth.

David Gibbs, President of Yum! Brands, stated, “We believe Clay Johnson and Gavin Felder are the ideal executives to accelerate Yum Brands’ growth through technology-centric strategies that advance the customer experience and ultimately deliver better economics and more value for our franchisees and shareholders.”

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Quick-service conglomerate Yum! Brands has appointed new Chief Executives to its Pizza Hut and Taco Bell units. The company has named Mark King, former President of Adidas Group North America, as Taco Bell division CEO, while Artie Starrs, President of Pizza Hut US, is being promoted to Pizza Hut division CEO.

Each will be responsible to drive their respective brand’s growth strategies, franchise operations and performance. Both appointments are effective on August 5, 2019.

King will be reporting to David Gibbs, President, COO and CFO of Yum! Brands. Additionally, Starrs, as well as present KFC division CEO Tony Lowings, will continue to report to Gibbs.

Greg Creed, CEO, Yum! Brands, said, “We believe this global brand division leadership structure at Taco Bell and Pizza Hut will enable the U.S. and international teams to further implement innovative best practices worldwide, strengthen digital and technology capabilities and accelerate growth for franchisees and shareholders.”

“We’re investing in world-class executives like Mark and fortunate to promote incredible talent throughout our company like Artie. Mark is an accomplished retail innovator, and Artie is an excellent growth strategist, both are strong culture leaders who will continue to elevate Taco Bell and Pizza Hut into relevant, easy and distinctive global brands,” he added.

Fast-food chains are venturing outside of their comfort zones. Taco Bell has entered into the world of french fries while Burger King is serving Crispy Tacos nationwide for a limited time.

Now, another go-to fast-food chain is getting into the taco game. KFC has started offering Crispy Chicken Tacos in certain locations in France.

The new KFC double taco will be packed with deep-fried chicken tenders, along with tomatoes, cheese and guacamole. These ingredients will all be set in a hard tortilla shell, which will then be wrapped in a softshell.

Currently, the Crispy Chicken Tacos can only be found at select locations in France.

This month, KFC also debuted a Cheetos Chicken Sandwich. It is made with a hand-breaded extra crispy chicken filet and a layer of crunchy Cheetos.

In another significant move, Taco Bell is revising its policy on the amount of antibiotics allowed in its beef. This is in line with the company’s effort to meet consumer demands and the changing views toward antibiotics in food products.

Beef is the dominant menu protein at Taco Bell. The chain is planning to reduce antibiotics by 25% in the majority of its beef supply by 2025. This change will be affecting 98% of its global beef supply, and 9.8 million daily orders.

The company said, “This is the brand’s latest step in ensuring that flexitarian and meat-loving fans can enjoy menu favorites, like the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, without having to choose between craveability and responsible food choices.”

Yum Brands, an American fast food company, is planning to launch 600 outlets of Taco Bell in India and employ around 20,000 people. With this development, India will be the second largest market for Taco Bell outside the US. Yum Brands is operating Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC.

Taco Bell has also named Burman Hospitality Pvt Ltd as its master franchise partner for India, which makes the New Delhi-based company the largest Taco Bell franchise globally by store count. The brand will further introduce cloud kitchens in the domestic market.

Liz Williams, President of Taco Bell International, said, "We plan to open 600 restaurants in India over a period of 10 years. Currently, there are 7,000 Taco Bell restaurants in the US alone. Rest of the 500 restaurants are located in other countries."

Gaurav Burman, Director, Burman Hospitality, stated, "The agreement of master franchise gives us the confidence to spend family money in the venture. It enables us to protect what we have built over the years such as India-specific equipment and kitchen designs we have developed for Taco Bell. The master franchise agreement with Taco Bell will allow us to grant sub-franchise agreements to third parties."

"We would first focus on building scale and we will do it on our own. Once we do that, we would look at inviting other partners," he added.

The owner of fast food chains KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, Yum! Brands Inc has posted a strong double-digit sales growth in revenues in India in the fourth quarter ending December and in the full year of 2018.

KFC India posted a 20% system sales growth in 2018 while recording a 17% system sales growth in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Samir Menon, Managing Director, KFC India, said, "The quarter ending December, marked the ninth consecutive quarter of positive system sales growth, with a 17 per cent system sales growth for India and area countries."

"The year gone by has been significant for KFC India with major developments on the brand and business front. Making KFC more accessible to consumers was a prime objective through the year- we kept our focus on everyday value, delivery and expanding our physical footprint across the country with new restaurants. We are confident of riding this positive momentum into 2019 and will continue to strengthen the brand through operational excellence and distinctive communication," he added.

Pizza Hut reported a system sales growth of 14% in the fourth quarter. The pizza chain has been consistently posting double-digit growth.

YUM! Brands KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell Sales Rise in India

Yum! Brands Inc., the owner of fast food retail brands KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, reports its system sales in India grew by 9% for KFC and 8% for Pizza Hut in Q1. This is the fourth quarter in a row the company has reported growth.

Rahul Shinde, MD of KFC India, said, “The April-June 2017 quarter is our fourth consecutive quarter of positive system sales growth, and we are happy to share that we have posted a 9% system sales growth. We shall continue to focus on our core products, innovation and value to sustain this positive momentum.”

Globally, Yum! Brands Inc. reported 1% decline in same store sales at Pizza Hut, leading to a 4% drop in net sales to $1.45 billion during the quarter under review from $1.51 billion in the corresponding quarter previous year.

Yum! Brands Inc. rival in India, Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd that operates Domino’s Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts outlets in India had reported a 6.5% rise in same-store sales in April-June quarter. Jubilant’s operating revenue grew 11.5% to Rs678.8 crore during the April June 2017 quarter.

Yum! Brands Inc. had, in January-March reported a 2% rise in system sales growth in India. In October-December 2016 quarter, it reported a 16% rise in system sales growth at KFC outlets and 9% at Pizza Hut stores in India.