News

Yes, Taco Bell Delivery Is Happening

by Melissah Yang

Whether or not you loved that little talking chihuahua, those "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" days are long gone. The taco fast food chain is hoping to continue its recent boost in modern success by testing a Taco Bell delivery service so you don't ever have to leave the couch to satisfy your mad munchies — and your friends can finally be relieved of their delivering duties. A delivery service, which apparently is the number one request from customers, is just another part of CEO Brian Niccol's big plans to reinvent Taco Bell into a millennial-friendly brand. In an interview with Nation's Restaurant News:

I know a lot of people are talking about creating modern fast-food brands, and a lot are trying. But we’re already on our way. We’re continuing to move Taco Bell into its own category.

Other fun stuff in the works? Taco Bell wants to dish out a new loyalty program to better engage with its more digital-savvy fans. Niccol said Taco Bell is considering switching to meat that's raised without antibiotics or hormones to better complement Americans' more health-conscious tastes. Taco Bell is also set to open environmentally-friendly stores in shipping containers. New restaurants will have open kitchens, and floor plans for small urban locations will be reimagined to create as much elbow room as possible.

Taco Bell has been experiencing a surprising comeback in recent years, beginning with its Doritos Locos Tacos in 2012. That fusion food became the company's most successful product launch in its 50-year history. Taco Bell continued that wave into modern fast food with the launch of its app in October, which allows mobile ordering and includes a customizable menu. A breakfast reboot campaign that began last month featured a biscuit taco (which is exactly what it sounds like). The chain is also in the middle of testing Cap'n Crunch Delights, a doughnut hole that tastes like a bowl of Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries cereal with milk.

Taco Bell isn't the only one looking to deliver straight to your home or office. Last month, Starbucks announced it would begin testing a delivery service for customers in certain parts of New York and Seattle. The big issue for any type of fast food delivery though is logistics, which Niccol said Taco Bell is currently figuring out. After all, no one wants cold coffee or soggy tacos. But if your city ends up being one of Taco Bell's test markets this year, #blessed. I'll allow it.