Taco Bell has kicked off 2022 by breaking international records as it celebrates the launch of its 100th restaurant in Spain and welcomes even more taco-loving fans throughout the world.
On Tuesday, the Yum Brands chain announced that it is accelerating its growth outside the U.S., opening 25% of its international restaurants in just the last two years, CNN reported. The company did not reveal its timeline for achieving the goal.
Around 8% of Taco Bell’s 7,427 restaurants were outside the United States by the end of 2020.
Spain, one of Taco Bell’s fastest-growing markets outside of the United States, has already launched its 100th location.
The company intends to create over 2,000 direct employment in the local economy by the conclusion of this year’s Spain restaurant openings, and even more indirect jobs through enhanced supply chain and vendor needs.
Taco Bell launched its first restaurant outside of the United States in 1973, and the company has increased its store count by more than 25% in the last two years. The fast food chain and its international franchisees intend to open more than 1,000 stores worldwide, with expansion plans as strong as ever.
Taco Bell has a devoted following in its native market, with weddings taking place at its Las Vegas facility. Vegetarians, for example, were instrumental in bringing back the potato alternatives last year after their outcry about menu changes.
Nonetheless, the chain’s U.S. business took longer to recover from the epidemic than Yum’s other two main brands, KFC and Pizza Hut. Taco Bell’s sales suffered as a result of the lack of late-night and early-morning demand.
Taco Bell is counting on internet orders as part of its international strategy. Customers who shop online account for 60% of all transactions in the United Kingdom. The company has started opening digital-only sites and eateries with delivery-only pick-up windows.
Taco Bell launched its first-ever worldwide brand campaign, “Taco Moon,” in May 2021, offering fans throughout the world a free taco in honor of the moon, which resembles the signature crispy taco.
Under the same #ISeeATaco advertising umbrella, the brand launched “Tacos IRL,” which encouraged 25 markets around the world to participate in International Taco Day celebrations.
Taco Bell fans who sent the familiar taco emoji on any mobile device earned a free taco. This campaign resulted in the biggest sales week in Taco Bell’s international history in October 2021.
Taco Bell’s international stores, unlike those in the United States, are completely run by franchisees. Some of these franchisees have been with Yum for decades, operating KFC or Pizza Hut locations in their respective nations.
Yum’s stock has grown 14 percent in the last year, giving the business a market worth of $35.5 billion.
