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Competition in the Tex-Mex and Mexican segments of the restaurant space has been fierce in recent years, led by fast-food chains Yum Brands' Taco Bell (YUM) and Chipotle (CMG) . Taco Bell is king with about 7,936 locations in the U.S., according to data company ScrapeHero. Chipotle has a good size of the market with 3,398 units. Other major players include Qdoba with over 750 locations and Del Taco (TACO) with over 600. Certain Mexican casual restaurant chains have had financial difficulties trying to compete and needed to file for bankruptcy. Chevy's Fresh Mex, which had as many as 37...

Even Taco Bell’s Chief Marketing Officer finds the food at the beloved fast-food chain to be “life-changing.” Taylor Montgomery has been with the franchise for more than eight years, and he recently revealed that he eats Taco Bell “every other day.” At Live Más LIVE, the company’s first-ever superfan convention, the CMO told Business Insider that he even orders the same thing every time. “Two to three crunchy tacos — not supreme, just regular crunchy tacos,” he told the outlet. “And a bean burrito with extra onions, grilled." “You have to try it, it’s life-changing,” Montgomery urged.

Operator Yum! Brands says about 45% of sales are digitalYum! Brands, the operator of KFC, Pizza Hit, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill restaurants, is embracing technology with plans for "AI-powered" fast food, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The company has been increasing investment in technology and automation, with about 45%, or $30 billion, of sales being digital – nearly twice what it was in 2019 – Yum's chief digital and technology manager Joe Park told the newspaper. That is roughly double the level of 2019. "Our vision of [quick-service restaurants] is that an AI-first mentality works...

aco Bell customers can no longer dine inside multiple Oakland locations. KRON4 visited two Taco Bell restaurants on Sunday and confirmed the dining rooms at two locations, 3535 35th Ave. and 630 Hegenberger Road, have been shut down. KRON4 asked one Taco Bell employee in Oakland why the dining room is now closed. “It’s closed because some people sometimes make trouble,” he said. One customer on foot appears to try and order from the Taco Bell drive-thru. That now seems to be the only way vehicle-less customers can place an order at these locations

A Taco Bell employee was slapped by a customer who blamed the fast-food chain for breaking his microwave after it blew up when he tried to reheat his meal at home. Footage of the swear-ridden clip was shared widely across social media over the weekend, with viewers saying that the consumer had tried to heat food still wrapped in foil. This is a catastrophic mistake as metal must never be cooked in a microwave. It remains unclear whether that was why the man's microwave exploded, but footage of his encounter back at the restaurant shows him complaining about the...

A new lawsuit alleges that a Taco Bell holiday party last year went off the rails and devolved into employees getting drunk, having public sex, and vomiting in a guacamole bowl. The suit was filed by a woman who worked at a Taco Bell in San Pedro, California, at the time and attended the holiday party. The lawsuit alleges that she reported the incident and was retaliated against by people associated with the defendants of the case. The suit alleges that the woman's supervisor invited her to the party at the Taco Bell restaurant they worked at in December 2022....

Taco fans, rejoice!Today, October 4, could arguably be the best holiday of the year — National Taco Day. And Taco Bell is here to celebrate. On Tuesday, the fast food chain announced the return of its Taco Lover's Pass, which gives taco fans the right to redeem one taco every day for 30 days straight for just $10. "The return of Taco Lover's Pass exemplifies Taco Bell's innovative spirit and creativity, leveraging digital experiences to deliver unrivaled value in modern ways," Dane Mathews, Taco Bell's chief digital officer, shared in a statement. "We're embracing our fan's passion for this digital...

A Taco Bell employee in North Carolina has been hospitalized with “life-threatening injuries” after being shot by a suspect who believed he had been given the wrong amount of change after placing an order, police said. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Department, officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. “Upon arrival, officers located an employee suffering from multiple gunshot wounds,” police said in a statement. “Witness statements indicate that after ordering food, the suspect became aggressive in the drive-thru when he believed he had been given an incorrect amount of change. “The suspect...

U.S. — In an attempt to avoid further injury and traumatic incidents involving Caucasians eating food that's far too spicy for them, the scientists behind the Scoville Scale have announced they are releasing a separate spiciness scale for white people. "We had to do something to save all those white folks," said Dr. Glenn Jacobs, lead researcher on the Scoville team. "We've been inundated with reports of white people suffering severe injuries while attempting to impress other people by ingesting foods that rank near the top of the scale. This new scale will likely save countless lives." The Scoville Scale,...

One of Taco Bell’s most recognizable menu items is going vegan. The chain is testing a vegan Crunchwrap, marking the first time that Taco Bell has sold a fully vegan entree. Similar to a traditional Crunchwrap, the vegan version uses a “proprietary, boldly seasoned” plant-based protein created by the company, and is then topped with two vegan sauces: a blanco sauce (similar to sour cream) and a vegan nacho sauce. Then it’s all wrapped in a crunchy tostada shell. However, it’s not going nationwide just yet: A total of three Taco Bell locations — one each in New York City,...

A Mississippi man was arrested Friday during a traffic stop after he attempted to hide a gun in a quesadilla from Taco Bell, according to police. Devin P. Mitchell folded the gun into the quesadilla when police in Picayune stopped him and driver Olivia Neff for a traffic violation, local WLOX reported. Officers reportedly saw Mitchell stuffing the handgun into a Taco Bell bag, prompting them to conduct a search of the vehicle, where they found the gun hidden in the Mexican meal. Mitchell found himself slapped with other charges after police also recovered methamphetamine, liquid heroin, and drug paraphernalia...

Taco Bell’s newest cantina will be the first for L.A. County, a news release said. A total of 150 Taco Bell eateries already operate within the county. Taco Bell Cantina restaurants are known for its alcoholic drink selection. The menu also includes fan-favorite food items. “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,” Mark Reed, Owner of C&R Restaurant Group, said in a statement.

IRVINE, CA — FDA officials specializing in the field of genuine Mexican food have released a comprehensive, peer-reviewed report confirming no link between eating Taco Bell and immediately suffering from explosive diarrhea, and that Taco Bell was "safe and effective." Some say the FDA's comprehensive meta-analysis may be enough to firmly place suggestions that Taco Bell causes a "Blitz in the Britches" to be unmistakable lies drummed up by conspiracy theorists. "The Science has spoken, thus concluding Taco Bell to be the source of neither Trouser Slop, Heavy Shartillery, nor Chino Cappuccino," said FDA spokesman, Ron Schitzfeldt, "Anyone claiming their...

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office says it has an "open and active investigation" into how rat poison ended up in a to-go food order of a man who bought burritos Sunday from a Taco Bell restaurant in the Denver suburb of Aurora, CBS Colorado's Brian Maass reports. "Right now what we're looking at is if the rat poison was actually put into his food at the restaurant. We don't know if it was, at this point in time," Sheriff Deputy John Bartmann told the station, adding that the case is categorized as "criminal attempt homicide." Bartmann and the restaurant manager,...

A Taco Bell manager fought with an employee at work before following him to a Scott Township business and fatally shooting him Wednesday afternoon, police said. Police responded to the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance office at Cochran and Greentree roads in Scott Township at 12:07 p.m. after receiving reports of shots being fired there, Allegheny County Police Superintendent Chris Kearns said. Responding officers found a man in the office foyer who had been shot to death. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office late Wednesday identified the victim as Dorian Carver, 32, of the Natrona Heights section of Harrison. Police identified...

In a kitschy Taco Bell marketing campaign, Dolly, Doja Cat, and Tik Tok stars pay homage to the return of their favorite menu item.Taco Bell finally aired Mexican Pizza: The Musical, starring Dolly Parton, with guest appearances by Doja Cat and over 21 Tik Tok stars. Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW The 15-minute homage to the beloved menu item— streamed live on Taco Bell's Tik Tok channel—was a send-up of a high school musical with colorful cardboard props and over-the-top show tunes. Dolly Parton and Doja Cat made appearances in a few pre-taped segments, and Dolly was also...

It turns out, we've been eating Italian Tacos all along.Fast food fans' love of Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza is undeniable. Sure, the chain played up the hype, but Taco Bell didn't need to falsify 100,000 signatures for on online petition or take over social media with bots to build grassroots interest in a Mexican Pizza musical. But with the Mexican Pizza officially returning to Taco Bell menus today, we still must face an inconvenient truth: Is the Mexican Pizza really a pizza? Isn't it just a glorified tostada begging for crossover appeal by naming itself a "pizza?" The folks at...

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Taco Bell is being sued by two customers after they said a manager poured boiling hot water on them. The lawsuit was filed on July 13 in Dallas County for the incident that took place on June 17. Brittany Davis and C.T. (a minor) both suffered severe burns and trauma when a Dallas Taco Bell manager poured boiling water on them as they tried to resolve an issue with their order. According to the lawsuit, the $30 order was filled incompletely twice in the drive-thru. The lawsuit continues to say that when the two women went inside...

The newest Taco Bell location is giving fans a new way to "Live Más." On June 7, Taco Bell Defy officially opened its doors and drive-thru lanes for a futuristic dining experience. The cutting-edge restaurant is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and has some unique features to improve the drive-thru experience. A video shared on Taco Bell's Instagram shows one of the most innovative designs: the vertical lift feature. This food delivery technology, which the narrator in the Instagram video unofficially calls the "food tube," transports food from the kitchen directly to customers through a chute. The new location also...

Police in Georgia have released the name of the 17-year-old Taco Bell employee who allegedly brought an assault rifle to work and opened fire on two teenagers in the parking lot, injuring both of them. The South Fulton Police Department said that Marquis Jordan, 17, is a suspect in the case and is the Taco Bell employee who allegedly brought the assault rifle to work, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. No arrests have been made in the case, according to police. The shooting took place at a Taco Bell in South Fulton, Georgia, on early Wednesday morning at around 12:45...