Taco Bell wants to spice up the world

Taco Bell global

Taco Bell is taking on the world.

The Mexican fast food chain plans rapid

international growth over the next four years. It

ended 2018 with just over 7,000 restaurants in 27

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countries. By 2022, it wants 9,000 restaurants in

more than 40 countries.

Taco Bell — owned by

Louisville, Kentucky-based

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Yum Brands Inc. — has

added around 200 restaurants

a year since 2014. It will have

to more than double that pace

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to reach its goal.

This month, Taco Bell

announced a plan to open

600 restaurants in India over

the next decade. It had

entered that market in 2010

but has just 35 restaurants there now.

Past expansion efforts have sometimes hit road

blocks. In Australia, Taco Bell flopped in 1981

because of a trademark issue and in 1997 because

its food hadn’t caught on. It plans to re-enter Sydney

and Melbourne soon after a successful test in

Brisbane.

Liz Williams, president of

Taco Bell’s international

division, says markets are

maturing and are more

receptive to new foods.

Taco Bell has also

learned to make tweaks. In

India, for example, it serves

a chicken tikka masala

burrito and an extra-fiery hot

sauce.