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New Zealand Taco Bell trial put on hold

September 21, 2011

In June, a New Zealand newspaper reported that Restaurant Brands was launching a pilot Taco Bell in Auckland.

The announcement came shortly after its sister chain KFC, also operated by Restaurant Brands, had a record-setting launch of the infamous Double Down in that country.

Now, however, it seems those plans have been put on the back burner. According to Radio NZ, the Taco Bell project is on hold.

Restaurant Brands' CEO Russel Creedy said a decision on whether or not the company will move forward is on hold until late 2012. The company, which also operates Pizza Hut and Starbucks chains in New Zealand, is holding out until the economy picks up.

In its most recent earnings report, ending in the middle of September, Restaurant Brands' sales fell 6.5 percent. The decline was due in part to the closure of some Pizza Hut stores and slowed at KFC.

New Zealand has been on the radar for many chains in their efforts to expand. Earlier this summer, Carl's Jr. made its debut there.

McDonald's also recently announced an expansion plan in New Zealand, calling the market "untapped."

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