Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza is finally returning to menus permanently on September 15, which is earlier-than-expected. Mexican Pizza came back to menus after a two-year hiatus in May, but demand was higher than expected and, after two weeks, we ran out.
Author Archive: LVEPartners
KFC is testing a chicken nugget aimed at Gen Z
KFC is trying out a new type of chicken nugget in an effort to attract younger consumers. Starting Monday, July 18, KFC is offering Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets in a limited time test market. The nuggets are made with white meat and KFC’s signature 11 herbs and spices. They come in servings of eight, 12 or 36 pieces.
A few different types of chicken, including popcorn nuggets, are alread offered. But nuggets will be a draw for the younger diner. The new nuggets have another potential advantage: They’re perfect for snacking, a trend that’s seeing a comeback as consumers adapt to hybrid work or return to the office. Nuggets can be eaten on the go.
KFC’s Mac & Cheese Bowls Return for $5
KFC Mac & Cheese Bowls are back! The bowls, which debuted in 2019, are making a return to restaurants nationwide on July 18 for $5. Fans can get their Mac & Cheese Bowls starting July 11, via an exclusive digital offer on the KFC mobile app and KFC.com.
KFC Mac & Cheese Bowls are a cheesy twist to KFC’s popular Famous Bowls. The $5 bowl features KFC’s rich and creamy cheddar mac & cheese topped with KFC’s crispy popcorn chicken and a sprinkle of a three-cheese blend. You can order a Spicy KFC Mac & Cheese Bowl version, too, featuring KFC’s spicy, smoky Nashville Hot sauce. You can make it a combo by adding a side of KFC’s Secret Recipe Fries and a medium drink.
Yum! Brands to End Ties with Russia
Yum! Brands announced Tuesday that it will fully leave Russia, as the invasion of Ukraine continues.
In June, the company transferred ownership of all Pizza Hut franchise assets to a local operator that will rebrand the stores. Yum! is also in advanced talks to transfer ownership of its KFC restaurants, operating system, and master franchise rights. Once that transaction is complete, the company will fully exit Russia.
In March, Yum! suspended operations of all corporately owned restaurants and halted investment and development efforts. Russia is home to roughly 1,000 KFC and 50 Pizza Hut units, most of which are under license or franchise agreements with independent owners. At that time, the company redirected all profits from Russia to humanitarian efforts and donated $1 million to the Red Cross. Yum! also used its disaster relief fund to support Ukrainian franchise employees and matched worker donations to UNICEF, Red Cross, World Food Programme, and International Rescue Committee.
Big Cheez-It Tostada Currently Testing in CA
Taco Bell and Cheez-It have come together for the ultimate Test Kitchen test: the Big Cheez-It Tostada. The Big Cheez-It Tostada features the eye-catching Cheez-It square topped with seasoned beef, reduced-fat sour cream, fresh diced tomatoes, crisp lettuce and shredded cheddar cheese.
But that’s not all. A crunchier, exclusive surprise awaits for users of the Taco Bell website and mobile app: the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme. This version includes seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, reduced-fat sour cream and diced tomatoes, but the typical tostada shell is swapped for the oversized Cheez-It cracker before being wrapped inside a tortilla that’s grilled to go. This is the first time Taco Bell has offered a digital exclusive as part of a one-restaurant test.
The Big Cheez-It Tostada ($2.49) and the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme ($4.29) are both currently testing at only one Taco Bell location in Irvine, CA for two weeks.
KFC Is Giving Away ‘Finger Sporks’
Anyone who orders a KFC Sides Lovers Meal in person or online at participating locations between June 21 and July 12 will receive two free KFC Finger Sporks while supplies last. For the record, the Sides Lovers Meal includes eight pieces of fried chicken or chicken tenders along with four biscuits and a choice of three large sides — offering plenty of opportunities to test out your new tiny sporks.
“KFC Finger Sporks are taking sides off the sidelines and putting them in the spotlight,” Nick Chavez, chief marketing officer for KFC U.S. “Every detail of the innovative Finger Spork has been carefully crafted and pressure tested — by way of eating many KFC sides — for the optimal finger lickin’ good experience.” The Finger Sporks are essentially utensil finger puppets, where diners simply stick a finger into the base of the small spork and dig right in.
Taco Bell Opens Restaurant of the Future
Taco Bell’s most innovative restaurant will have a four-lane drive-thru. Nicknamed “Taco Bell Defy”, the new prototype opens in Minnesota in June. Three of the four drive-thru lanes are specifically mobile orders and third-party delivery, while the fourth is a traditional lane with speaker box and menu board. After customers complete their order in the drive-thru, a Team Member places the meal in a vertical lift system that transports the order to guests.
KFC announces the ‘Jack Harlow Meal’
KFC is continuing its partnership with rapper (and Kentucky native) Jack Harlow. KFC announced the new “Jack Harlow Meal,” which will drop at KFC locations nationwide beginning June 6.
The combo meal, hand-selected by Harlow himself, includes the brand’s spicy chicken sandwich, mac & cheese, secret recipe fries, a side of ranch, and a lemonade.
“From releasing ‘Come Home the Kids Miss You’ and now launching my own meal at KFC, I’m having a super blessed summer,” Harlow said in a press release.
He added that the meal brings together his childhood favorites from growing up in Louisville (like the brand’s classic mac & cheese) to newer menu items such as the spicy chicken sandwich (released in 2021) and secret recipe fries (first introduced in 2020.)
Demand for Mexican Pizza Exceeds Expectations
Demand for the Mexican Pizza was seven times higher than when it last appeared on menus two years ago. Many locations have sold out.
“Because of the incredible love for the Mexican Pizza, we have begun selling out across the country,” Taco Bell said on its corporate website. “Our restaurant teams trained weeks for what we knew would be a big return, we just didn’t realize how big, and replenishing the beloved menu item is taking longer than we’d like.”
The statement went on to say that Taco Bell is working “diligently with our restaurants and suppliers” to get more ingredients for the pizza, and hopes it returns permanently to menus “by this fall.”
Mexican Pizza Early Access and Free Reward
Thursday, May 19 is the first day the pizza is officially available to order, but Taco Bell Rewards members have early access Tuesday and Wednesday when ordering on the mobile app for in-store or drive-thru orders. Loyalty members who joined by the Super Bowl also will have a reward to get the pizza for free, redeemable through June 1. As an IOU, Taco Bell Rewards Members who received a mystery reward back during the Big Game will score a free Mexican Pizza when it’s back May 19, and loyalty members will get first dibs with early access to the menu item beginning May 17. The free pizza reward is valid from 5/19 through 6/1 and redeemable only via the Taco Bell mobile app for in-store/drive-thru pickup orders.