Taco Bell

Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell in Downey, California, serving Mexican-inspired food. The small walk-up building later became known as Numero Uno.⁠[1]

Kermit Becky opened the first franchise in Torrance.⁠[2]

The company went public with 325 restaurants.⁠[2]

Glen Bell sold the 868-restaurant business to PepsiCo.⁠[2]

The Taco Bell Foundation began supporting youth education and career readiness, later expanding its work through scholarships and grants to community organizations.⁠[3]

Taco Bell joined Tricon through PepsiCo’s restaurant-business spin-off.⁠[2]

After introducing Baja Blast in 2004, the chain launched Crunchwrap Supreme in 2005.⁠[2]

The company launched its mobile ordering and payment app.⁠[2]

The company announced plans to move its original building from Downey to its Irvine headquarters to prevent demolition. The site had stopped operating as a Taco Bell in 1986 and subsequently housed other restaurants.⁠[1]

The Taco Bell Foundation launched the Live Más Scholarship.⁠[2]

Sean Tresvant succeeded the retiring Mark King as Taco Bell Division CEO, responsible for global growth, franchise operations and overall performance. The appointment had been announced in June 2023.⁠[4]

Yum! Brands announced an expanded Taco Bell U.S. drive-thru voice-AI rollout. More than 100 locations in 13 states already used it, with hundreds targeted by year-end. Improved accuracy and reduced staff workload were stated company objectives.⁠[5]

PYMNTS, citing a Wall Street Journal interview, reported customer complaints about glitches after voice AI reached more than 500 Taco Bell locations. Technology chief Dane Mathews described mixed experiences and discussions with franchisees about which tasks suited the system and which required employees.⁠[6]

Omilia announced a continuing partnership with Taco Bell and reported deployment at more than 890 U.S. restaurants across 38 states. This subsequent expansion indicates that the 2025 reassessment was not a systemwide withdrawal; deployment and performance figures came from the supplier’s announcement.⁠[7]

The CDC linked Cyclospora infections to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states, with traceback identifying a common Mexican supply source. This described the investigation’s scope at that stage, rather than attributing all U.S. infections to Taco Bell.⁠[8]

Yum! Brands reported 9,046 Taco Bell restaurants at quarter-end, $4.677 billion in second-quarter system sales, 7% same-store sales growth and $311 million in operating profit. System sales measure sales across the brand’s network and are distinct from parent-company revenue.⁠[9]

The CDC’s final update declared the multistate outbreak linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce over, with implicated products no longer available. It said the FDA was still investigating the contamination’s cause. Overall outbreak totals covered a broader scope and cannot all be attributed to Taco Bell.⁠[10]

The Taco Bell Foundation announced $32 million in community grants for 700 U.S. nonprofits supporting education, career readiness and mentoring. Funding mechanisms include voluntary customer round-up donations, while franchisees nominate local organizations.⁠[3]

The company announced its third collaboration with Milk Bar, planning a limited-time Birthday Cake Empanada launch at participating restaurants on October 15. The product was still forthcoming when announced.⁠[11]

Taco Bell is a Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant brand within Yum! Brands, headquartered in Irvine, California, operating through franchised and company-owned restaurants. Its menu includes tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, drinks and vegetarian options, with customizable sauces and additions.⁠[12][9][13]

Taco Bell: Website: https://www.tacobell.com/ (opens in a new window); X: https://x.com/tacobell (opens in a new window); YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: https://www.youtube.com/@TacoBell (opens in a new window); LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taco-bell/ (opens in a new window).⁠[5][14][15][12]