Taco Bell

Taco Bell was founded by Glen Bell in Downey, California in 1962. He had previously opened a hot dog stand called Bell's Drive-In in San Bernardino, California in 1946. Then he opened a hamburger stand called Bell's Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. He was intrigued by a nearby Mexican restaurant which sold tacos. In 1952 he opened his first taco stand called Taco-Tia, and over the years he bought several more taco stands before selling them all off in 1962 to open his first Taco Bell.

Taco Bell is now the leading Mexican quick serve restaurant in the US and also has franchisees operating in Europe, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, India, Japan and Singapore. The chain serves over 42 million customers each week in restaurants and through its delivery ordering services. Taco Bell plans to have 8,000 restaurants by the year 2023, creating an estimated 100,000 jobs.

Franchise System

Training for new franchisees consists of web-based, on the job and classroom training, and is taught by a certified Taco Bell training instructor in a certified Taco Bell training restaurant. Training must be completed at least eight weeks prior to the planned opening of the restaurant.

Taco Bell franchisees benefit from internationally known products and a proven operating system to set franchisees up for success. They also benefit from the existing network of franchisees, more than 35% of which have over 25 years of experience. Franchisees have access to Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions (RSCS), the largest food-buying co-op in the food service industry.

Corporate Social Responsibility

The Taco Bell Foundation

The Taco Bell Foundation was founded in 1992, which is a nonprofit organisation that aims to help youth to discover their passions and potential, by providing them with support, resources and opportunities. The foundation works with partners to help young people to graduate high school. They provide Live Más Scholarships to young adults to help them pursue their unique dreams. Since it was established, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people, and has awarded $75 million in scholarships and grants that are focussed on education and career readiness.

Environment

In 2014 Taco Bell changed the parking lot lamps at their restaurants for more efficiency and to reduce consumption. 6,841 lamps were changed in total for an anticipated annual saving of just over one million watts. They also plan to change their new store air conditioning system designs to variable speed technologies to help reduce its cost of operating and reduce their carbon footprint, with a 20 percent expected reduction in energy consumption. They are currently testing the use of solar panels in suitable locations, with one currently up and running at a restaurant in California. Taco Bell’s goal is to build all future company-owned restaurants according to parent company Yum Brands’ Blueline sustainable building standard.

Nutrition

Taco Bell are one of the first quick serve restaurants to post their full nutrition information online, and their nutrition calculator allows customers to calculate and customise their order and make an informed decision. Their restaurants offer customisable food including vegetarian, gluten free, low fat, or indulgent.

The quality of Taco Bell food has improved over the years, including removing artificial flavours and colours, removing added trans fat, high fructose corn syrup and unsustainable palm oil. There has been a 15% decrease in sodium across their menu since 2008, and they aim to reduce this further by an additional 10%. They aim to only source 100% cage-free eggs from their menu by January 2018. They also aim to serve chicken raised without human antibiotics by early 2017.

Financial Information

· Required investment: £911,020 - £2,250,740
· Capital Required: £644,257
· Upfront fee: £38,637

Sources
http://www.tacobellfranchise.com/
https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/tacobell/282858
http://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/taco-bell-history
http://www.tacobellfranchise.com/why-taco-bell
https://www.tacobell.com/food/nutrition
http://www.yumcsr.com/brands-overview/tb-page.asp