Taco Bell makes a lot of menu changes without adding a lot of new items. That allows the company to endlessly delight its regulars and bring back lapsed customers without actually complicating its kitchen too much.
The Yum Brands (YUM) chain has mastered the concept of combining existing menu items in a new way and/or adding a new topping or sauce to create something entirely new. That has allowed it to be the most-active fast-food brand when it comes to putting new items on its menu.
DON'T MISS: McDonald's Menu Tries a New Take on French Fries (Really)
Fast food chains face multiple challenges when it comes to their menus. They need to innovate and add new items, but they also need to maintain the speed of service in their kitchens. That's why McDonald's (MCD) has not brought back its beloved Snack Wraps despite heavy interest from its customer base.
That's also why McDonald's never brought back all-day breakfast (and why Burger King and Wendy's never even tried it). Taco Bell, which also stops selling its morning menu when it switches over to lunch, has found the perfect balance of adding new items without slowing down its kitchen production.
Now, the chain's latest menu test offers three new tacos that are both very different and comfortably familiar.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell Tests New Double-Stacked Tacos
Taco Bell has tried variations on a two-shell taco before. Its "Gordita" line wraps a flatbread "shell" around a traditional crunchy taco. Its no-longer-offered "Double Decker" line featured a layer of beans between an exterior soft shell taco and an interior crunchy one.
Now, the chain has been testing three "Double-Stacked" tacos at a $2 price point at its locations in Birmingham, Ala., Fast Food Post reported. The Nacho Crunch Double Stacked Taco has appeared on the chain's menu before (and it was offered for $1) but the Cheesy Chipotle Double Stacked Taco and new Sweet Scorpion Double Stacked Taco are both new.
The fast food website shared what's in the the two new versions of the Double Stacked Tacos:
- The new $2 Sweet Scorpion Double Stacked Taco features a crunchy taco shell filled with the brand’s signature seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, and cheddar cheese, all wrapped in a flour tortilla with a layer of nacho cheese sauce and garnished with an all-new Sweet Scorpion sauce.
- The new $2 Cheesy Chipotle Double Stacked Taco features a crunchy taco shell stuffed with seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, chipotle sauce, and cheddar cheese, all wrapped in a flour tortilla with a layer of nacho cheese sauce.
The most surprising thing here may be that Taco Bell has opted to name a sweet sauce, "Scorpion Sauce." The sauce is actually inspired by sweet chili sauce despite its name, which suggests something more biting.
Taco Bell's Parent Company Has a Clear Focus
Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs shared that the parent company has a goal for all its brands in the coming years and it's using the acronym RED for Relevant, Easy, and Distinctive brands as a driving mantra. He talked about how Taco Bell has been performing during the chain's fourth-quarter earnings call.
On a global basis, full-year system sales grew 11%, driven by 8% same-store sales growth and 5% unit growth," he shared. "...And coupled with the incredible array of talent in place and our strong franchisee partnerships, it should be no surprise that Taco Bell earns the top spot on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 ranking for the third year running."
Taco Bell also grew U.S. grew system sales 14%, underpinned by an exceptional 11% same-store sales growth for the quarter. The CEO credits a lot of that to menu innovation and balancing value with unique menu items.
"Overall, Taco Bell did a terrific job this quarter at balancing both ends of the consumer spectrum by featuring premium products that our consumers crave, such as the Grilled Cheese Burrito with sharply priced items like Nacho Fries," he added.
