Operations

Taco Bell lays out growth plan

Taco Bell will add two more Cantina designs to its store count by the end of the year. Provided.

August 10, 2023

Taco Bell has laid out a growth plan for the second half of the year. The QSR brand says it's on track to operate 10,000 U.S.-based restaurants in the coming years and will utilize technology and its Go Mobile iteration of its units, according to a press release.

"Taco Bell is growing for good. Each time a new restaurant opens, we treat it as an opportunity to do better for fans, team members and our franchise partners," Scott Mezvinsky, managing director, North America, said in the press release. "Our secret sauce is our constant innovation paired with our incredible franchisee partnerships, which unlocks our profitable growth and further expansion. From creating new jobs and strengthening our communities to evolving the brand experience our fans have come to love, we're consistently looking to build for a better future."

The brand plans to grow its Go Mobile units, the first of which opened in El Paso, Texas, in March. The concept is a smaller Taco Bell unit that utilizes more digital touchpoints than other Taco Bell designs.

The brand introduced a Touch Kitchen Display System to help team members become more efficient in the kitchen in 2020. The move makes Taco Bell one of the fastest QSRs in the industry. Taco Bell will continue to roll out Touch KDSs and will introduce an all-new open-kitchen floor plan that focuses on team member ergonomics.

Taco Bell will also expand its themed Cantina restaurants using urban designs, open kitchen concepts and the addition of alcoholic drinks. New Cantinas are expected in Indianapolis and downtown Los Angeles by the end of the year.