Taco Bell And Other Cheap Food Chains Are Unleashing Upscale Versions Of Themselves
Taco Bell food is typically quick, cheap, and not where you’d find higher-end consumers who have a desire for something that doesn’t include a Doritos Locos taco or something as crazy as a Waffle Taco.
In fact, Taco Bell understands that it is a cheap and reliable source of fast-food for less-than-picky customers, but the company wants to reach out to people who are willing to pay more for a little touch of class. Knowing that many upper-end foodies would never step foot into a Taco Bell, the company introduced a new restaurant aimed at customers who are willing to pay more for fancier fare.
According to Time, the upscale Taco Bell is called U.S. Taco Co., and it opened next to the beach in Huntington Beach, California. A hungry customer can order a $10 lobster taco or a premium taco for about $5. If Taco Bell’s upscale counterpart does well, the restaurant could branch out across the country.
Taco Bell’s Chief Executive Greg Creed said that he “would love one day to see 1,000 of these” around the nation.
Taco Bell isn’t the only cheap fast-food restaurant looking to break into the upper class. KFC opened KFC eleven last summer without Colonel Sanders anywhere in sight, according to Time. Flatbreads, rice bowls, and subdued colors are what customers will find if they walk into the Louisville, Kentucky restaurant.
“KFC eleven will transform how people think about the brand, and we’re looking to build a spirited crew to bring these fresh and amazing flavors to today’s consumers,” a job ad for KFC eleven stated.
Cinnabon also sees a future in upscale dining like Taco Bell and KFC. Coming in September, Cinnabon will test a new idea in the form of the Bon Bake Shop at a Houston mall. The regular cinnamon roll isn’t on the menu, but customers can get bite-sized treats of different delightful flavors.
While some may believe these expansions into new territory are just new ways to get more money from people, others believe that the step away from the cheap fast-food restaurants can only be a sign of better and perhaps healthier things to come.
Taco Bell and its fast-food buddies will likely not fizzle out after the expansion into upscale territory. There will always be someone strapped for cash looking for a quick dinner on the go, and even upscale customers like to sneak through the Taco Bell drive-thru to feed their guilty pleasures once in a while.
[Images via U.S. Taco Co. and KFC eleven/Facebook]
