5 years ago
Note to Taco Bell: We'd love it if your food had flavor in the U.S., too.
Despite not reclaiming the top spot in December, quick-service restaurants continue to dominate television advertising spending, as the value menu wars rage on.
The announcement underscores the increasingly mainstream appeal of vegetarianism and meat alternatives in the U.S.
From mergers to leadership changes to loss, 2018 was filled with news that kept us on our toes. Here are the stories that had the biggest impact.
Taco Bell may be one of the largest quick-service restaurant chains in America, but it sees a ton of growth opportunities still to be had in highly populated urban areas. The Cantina concept is its key to success in those uniquely difficult markets.
As sales have slowed for the restaurant industry in the U.S., Taco Bell is investing elsewhere to drum up that double digit same-store sales growth.
6 years ago
Despite recent challenges, there's no reason to believe Yum China's growth and profitability will soon outpace that of its U.S. parent company. Especially with a savvy local group like Hillhouse backing it.
Value menus offer a cheap and convenient buy for existing customers, but the $1 menu items aren't attracting tons of new customers to the chains.
The chain is making more money from each visit, which isn't the worst news. But it's competitors are on track to perform much better this quarter.
We are not going to hate on Taco Bell's global ambitions, but we will point out that it's a long way from being a novelty hit with beer and margaritas to the type of growth it was once used to in the U.S.
Watch out Subway. You can't hide behind your bland sandwiches forever.
If anyone can right Chipotle, it's the executive who helped make Taco Bell cool again.
