How it all began?
Taco Bell was founded in the year 1962 by a Marine named Glenn Bell. He named his new restaurant Bell’s drive in California. In the ensuing years Bell started and ended many restaurant businesses in California. He started Taco Bell in 1962 after selling El Taco to his partner. The first Taco franchise was bought by Kermit Becky, a former police officer. This franchise was located in Torrance. Since, then there was no looking back because by 1967 the company has already added 100 restaurants to its name. In 1978 the company was purchased by PepsiCo.

Taco Bell into the new age of driving restaurants by introducing the Taco Bell express in 1991, this restaurant had limited menu to offer but it was a huge hit. This drive-in restaurant only serves the food items valued below $1. The express can operate outside any public locations such as convenience store, airport or truck stop.

Taco Bell is not new to controversies

The first major outburst was reported in March 2005, when the coalition of Immokalee Workers revolted against the human rights violations inflicted by Taco Bell management. They won landmark victory against improving the working conditions of Florida based Tomato pickers. Their wages, and other work conditions were improved and escalated to appreciable limits.

The next major controversy erupted in January 2011, when the lawsuit was filed against Taco Bell for serving the beef tacos with just 35% beef matter in it. The restaurant chain has to fight its way out to prove that it is acting true to its word by serving authentic beef tacos. It gave away 10, 000 million free tacos to express its gratitude towards those fans who stood by it through the testing times (read beef controversy).

Taco Bell and Unusual Line of Advertising

Taco Bell has always created impact with its unusual advertising strategies. In March 2001, it shot into limelight announcing the challenging promotion to coincide the re-entry of Mir Space Station into Earths orbit. They set a large target in the Pacific ocean and announced that if any piece of the Space station hit the target then every single person in United States will be treated with a free Taco. But fortunately or unfortunately that never happened.

“Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” was the next big taco promotion campaign initiated by the company. In 2007, the company announced that if any of the participating teams in World Series stole a base then every single person in United States will be treated to a taco. However, the company refused to back from its point even after realizing that they were much closer to loose this bet.

The ensuing years was really special in terms of growth which was largely mobilized by the eye catching food menus and equally eye ball popping advertisement campaigns. As said before the Taco Bell undertook a major rebranding campaign in February 2011, to clear out its name from the Beefy mess. The management announced that it will give out 10,000 million free tacos to everyone who stood by them during the thick times. And Taco Bell kept its word.

All experts have univocally accepted that with this great growing pace, bigger things are in store for the Taco Bell in the coming years.

Image Courtesy:2.bp.blogspot.com