Editing Taco Bell (section)

=== PepsiCo subsidiary ===
[[File:Taco Bell Headquarters Irvine.jpg|thumb|Former headquarters at 17901 Von Karman Avenue in Irvine, California|right]]
In 1978, [[PepsiCo]] purchased Taco Bell from Glen Bell.<ref name=company>{{cite web |url=http://www.tacobell.com/company/ |title=Company Information |publisher=Taco Bell |date=August 9, 2011 |access-date=August 16, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812223309/http://www.tacobell.com/company |archive-date=August 12, 2011 }}</ref> In the 1980s, Taco Bell entered rapid expansion when it acquired several other fast food joints and turned those locations into their own. This included Taco Charley, a [[San Mateo, California]]-based chain,<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 10, 1975 |title=to |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-tribune-to/164202026/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=The Press-Tribune |pages=12}}</ref> in 1982,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taco Bell, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., will acquire... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/09/02/Taco-Bell-a-subsidiary-of-PepsiCo-Inc-will-acquire/6771532998001/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> [[Pup 'N' Taco]], a [[Long Beach]], California-based chain in 1984,<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 1, 1984 |title=PNT |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-pnt/164891399/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=The Los Angeles Times |pages=141}}</ref> and [[Zantigo]], a [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]]-based Mexican chain, in 1986.<ref>"PepsiCo to merge Zantigo's, Taco Bell," ''San Jose Mercury News'', October 2, 1986, p. 10C.</ref> These acquisitions (and later conversions) resulted in many early Taco Bell stores closing and moving to these newer facilities. Taco Bell also dropped its existing Mexican-based branding, replacing it with a more mainstream design in 1984.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 17, 1984 |title=Taco Bell introducing its 1984 logo |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-taco-bell-introduc/108269216/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=The Los Angeles Times |pages=116}}</ref> In 1990, the [[Hot 'n Now]] chain was acquired.<ref name="lat">{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Greg|title=Taco Bell Cools on Hot 'n Now Burger Chain : Fast food: Company plans to sell most of its hamburger outlets to franchisees and licensees. Its only California eatery is in O.C.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-26-fi-59033-story.html|access-date=October 31, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 26, 1995|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917182638/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-04-26/business/fi-59033_1_taco-bell|archive-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref> Taco Bell sold Hot 'n Now to a Connecticut company in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zarcolaw.com/news-about-zesb-06.php|title=No Quiero Taco Bell: Did new parent drive its Hot 'n Now drive-through burger chain into the ground with bad ideas, or did franchise fail to keep up?|last=Richardson|first=James M.|date=December 7, 1998|work=Miami Daily Business Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131113705/http://www.zarcolaw.com/news-about-zesb-06.php|archive-date=January 31, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=June 13, 2008}}</ref>

In 1991, Taco Bell opened the first Taco Bell Express in [[San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zH4UAAAAIBAJ&pg=2092,5565453&dq=taco-bell-express|title=Taco Bell Express makes fast food look slow|date=November 21, 1991|work=Toledo Blade|access-date=July 11, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Taco Bell Express locations operate primarily inside convenience stores, truck stops, shopping malls, and airports; this concept had been experimented with as early as 1984, with several test mall locations opening.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 12, 1984 |title=Taco Bell mall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/simi-valley-star-taco-bell-mall/164891675/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=Simi Valley Star |pages=14}}</ref> Taco Bell began [[co-branding]] with [[KFC]] in 1995 when the first such co-brand opened in [[Clayton, North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_33_39/ai_n14922679/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708123756/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_33_39/ai_n14922679/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 8, 2012 | title=Co-branding trend has U.S. franchisees seeing double: veteran KFC-Taco Bell franchisee Al Luihn helped pioneer the Yum system's multibranding trend, showing dos and don'ts of ...|publisher=Findarticles.com}}</ref> The chain has since co-branded with [[Pizza Hut]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-cobranding-among-franchises-23846.html |title=Advantages & Disadvantages of Co-Branding Among Franchises |work=Houston Chronicle |date=March 4, 2012 |access-date=October 18, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017073005/http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-cobranding-among-franchises-23846.html |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }}</ref> and [[Long John Silver's]] as well.<ref>{{cite web |first=Davide |last=Dukcevich |date=March 12, 2002 |url=https://www.forbes.com/2002/03/12/0312tricon.html#52312b73147e |title=Tricon To Blend Taco Bell, Long John Silver's |website=Forbes |access-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084854/https://www.forbes.com/2002/03/12/0312tricon.html#52312b73147e |archive-date=February 12, 2018 }}</ref>

In 1997, PepsiCo experimented with a new "fresh grill" concept, opening at least one Border Bell restaurant in [[Mountain View, California]], on El Camino Real ([[California State Route 82|SR 82]]). Close to the time that PepsiCo spun off its restaurant business in 1997,<ref name="TRICON-GLOBAL-RESTAURANTS-Aug-1997-10-12B/A">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2887/104106197000009/filing-main.htm |title=Tricon Global Restaurants, Form 10-12B/A, Filing Date Aug 20, 1997 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 4, 2018}}</ref> the Border Bell in Mountain View was closed and converted to a Taco Bell restaurant which was still open in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Taco Bell in Mountain View, California {{!}} 950 W El Camino Real|url=https://locations.tacobell.com/ca/mountain-view/950-w-el-camino-real.html|website=tacobell.com|access-date=March 5, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306082720/https://locations.tacobell.com/ca/mountain-view/950-w-el-camino-real.html|archive-date=March 6, 2018}}</ref>

In September 2000, up to $50 million worth of Taco Bell-branded shells were [[StarLink corn recall|recalled]] from supermarkets.<ref name="TRICON-GLOBAL-RESTAURANTS-Oct-2000-10-Q">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2559/104106100000025/filing-main.htm |title=Tricon Global Restaurants, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Oct 17, 2000 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 4, 2018}}</ref> The shells contained a variety of [[genetically modified corn]] called StarLink that was not approved for human consumption.<ref name="TRICON-GLOBAL-RESTAURANTS-Feb-2001-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/871/104106101000003/filing-main.htm |title=Tricon Global Restaurants, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Feb 15, 2001 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 4, 2018}}</ref> StarLink was approved only for use in animal feed because of questions about whether it can cause allergic reactions in people.<ref>ABC News (2015). [https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117943&page=1 "Taco Bell Will Replace Taco Shells from Restaurants."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023010602/http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117943&page=1 |date=October 23, 2017 }} Sept. 23.</ref> It was the first-ever recall of [[genetically modified food]] (GMO). Corn was not segregated at grain elevators and the miller in Texas did not order that type.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-sep-23-mn-25314-story.html |title=Taco Bell Recalls Shells That Used Bioengineered Corn |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 3, 2012 |access-date=January 30, 2014 |first=Melinda |last=Fulmer |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140131042556/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/sep/23/news/mn-25314 |archive-date=January 31, 2014 }}</ref> In 2001, Tricon Global announced a $60 million settlement with the suppliers. They stated that it would go to Taco Bell franchisees and TGR would not take any of it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/news/2001/06/taco-bell-rings-up-60-million-for-starlink-contam.aspx |title=Taco Bell Rings up $60 Million for StarLink-Contaminated Shells |publisher=Naturalproductsinsider.com |date=June 12, 2001 |access-date=January 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020215847/http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/news/2001/06/taco-bell-rings-up-60-million-for-starlink-contam.aspx |archive-date=October 20, 2013 }}</ref>