Taco Bell Business Overview

About Taco Bell

Taco Bell Corp. ("Taco Bell"), based in Irvine, California, is the nation's leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, signature quesadillas, Grilled Stuft Burritos, nachos, and other specialty items such as Crunchwrap Supreme®, in addition to a wide variety of Big Bell Value Menu® items. Taco Bell serves more than 36.8 million consumers each week in nearly 5,600 restaurants in the U.S.

Company History

The founder of Taco Bell, Glen Bell, started with a hot dog stand in San Bernardino, California in 1946. After experimenting with alternative food items, he opened three Taco-Tia (his initial attempts were named for his daughter) stands between 1954 and 1955, which he later sold to his partners. He then opened the first Taco Bell in Downey, California on March 21, 1962.

In 1975, Glen tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Board. Three years later, he sold Taco Bell's 868 units, to PepsiCo, Inc. The deal was some six months in the making and ended with Glen Bell as a major PepsiCo shareholder and millions richer.

In 1977 the first international unit opens in Guam, and in 1984 Taco Bell replaces its original mission-style restaurants. Drive-thru windows are also installed.

In 1995 PepsiCo Restaurant International (PRI) is the global management unit for the Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut international business.

In October of 1997, PepsiCo announced a spin-off of its three franchises -- KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell -- which combined them into one new publicly owned company, Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc.

In May of 2002, Tricon Global Restaurants Inc. changes its name to Yum! Brands, Inc., after acquiring Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food Restaurants.

This web page does not constitute a franchise offering or an offer to sell a franchise. A franchise offering can be made by us only in a state if we are first registered, excluded, exempted or otherwise qualified to offer franchises in that state, and only if we provide you with an appropriate franchise disclosure document.