Editing Taco Bell (section)

=== Yum! Brands subsidiary ===
PepsiCo spun out Taco Bell and its other restaurant chains in late 1997 in [[Tricon Global Restaurants]].<ref name="TRICON-GLOBAL-RESTAURANTS-Jul-1997-10-12B/A">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2885/104106197000007/filing-main.htm |title=Tricon Global Restaurants, Form 10-12B/A, Filing Date Jul 28, 1997 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Greg|title=Taco Bell's Parent to Be Based in Louisville, Ky.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-01-fi-18327-story.html|access-date=November 9, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 1, 1997|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151111003543/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/aug/01/business/fi-18327|archive-date=November 11, 2015}}</ref> With the purchase of Yorkshire Global Restaurants, the owners of [[A&W Restaurants|A&W]] and [[Long John Silver's]] chains, Tricon changed its name to Yum! Brands on May 16, 2002.<ref name="YUM!-Brands-May-2002-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2209/104106102000008/filing-main.htm |title=YUM! Brands, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date May 20, 2002 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tricon to Change Name to Yum! Brands Inc|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/52036|access-date=October 28, 2017|work=Entrepreneur|agency=Business Wire|date=May 20, 2002|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029013522/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/52036|archive-date=October 29, 2017}}</ref>

In March 2005, the [[Coalition of Immokalee Workers]] (CIW) won a landmark victory in its national boycott of Taco Bell for human rights. Taco Bell agreed to meet all the coalition's demands to improve wage and working conditions for [[Florida]] tomato pickers in its supply chain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leftturn.org/taco-bell-boycott-victory%E2%80%94-model-strategic-organizing-interview-coalition-immokalee-workers|title=Taco Bell Boycott Victory—A Model of Strategic Organizing : An interview with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers|first=David|last=Solnit|publisher=leftturn|date=August 1, 2005|access-date=June 2, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618102334/http://www.leftturn.org/taco-bell-boycott-victory%E2%80%94-model-strategic-organizing-interview-coalition-immokalee-workers|archive-date=June 18, 2015}}</ref> After four years of boycott, Taco Bell and Yum! Brands agreed to make an agreement called the ''CIW-Yum agreement'' with representatives of CIW at Yum! Brands headquarters.<ref>{{cite news | title = A Side Order of Human Rights | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/06/opinion/06schlosser.html | date = April 6, 2005 | newspaper = The New York Times | access-date = March 23, 2009 | first = Eric | last = Schlosser | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050406215548/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/06/opinion/06schlosser.html | archive-date = April 6, 2005 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

[[File:Taco Bell Cantina Las Vegas.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The downstairs interior of the Taco Bell Cantina flagship store in Las Vegas, Nevada.|The downstairs interior of the Taco Bell Cantina flagship store in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]]]]
Taco Bell began experimenting with fast-casual and urban concepts when it created U.S. Taco Co. and Urban Taproom in 2014 reflecting a market shift due to the popularity of [[Chipotle Mexican Grill]]. The menu consisted of tacos with American fillings, and did not sell the food sold in Taco Bell restaurants, such as burritos. It was launched in [[Huntington Beach, California]], in August 2014.<ref name=luna>{{cite news|last=Luna|first=Nancy|title=Taco Bell to unveil U.S. Taco, a fast-casual taco mash-up concept|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/taco-611073-bell-fast.html|access-date=May 8, 2014|newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]]|date=April 23, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427233211/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/taco-611073-bell-fast.html|archive-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref> 

U.S. Taco Co. closed on September 15, 2015, so the company could focus on its new similar Taco Bell Cantina concept, which featured special menu items and served alcohol. It opened its first location a few days later in Chicago's [[Wicker Park, Chicago|Wicker Park]] neighborhood, followed by a location in [[San Francisco]] about a month later, located less than a block away from [[AT&T Park]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/2015/09/17/us-taco-closes-taco-bell-shutters-experimental-upscale-eatery-in-huntington-beach/|title=U.S. Taco closes: Taco Bell shutters experimental upscale eatery in Huntington Beach|date=September 17, 2015|work=Orange County Register|access-date=December 9, 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210123653/http://www.ocregister.com/2015/09/17/us-taco-closes-taco-bell-shutters-experimental-upscale-eatery-in-huntington-beach/|archive-date=December 10, 2017}}</ref> In 2016, Taco Bell launched the Taco Bell Cantina flagship store located on the [[Las Vegas Strip]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foodbeast.com/news/tb-cantina-vegas/|title=Inside Taco Bell's 24-Hour Las Vegas Cantina, Complete With Alcohol And DJ|date=November 15, 2016 |access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> The 24-hour restaurant serves alcohol, unique menu items, and features a [[DJ]]. It was announced in August 2017 that the store would begin hosting weddings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vegas.eater.com/2017/8/7/16105652/taco-bell-cantina-weddings-star|title=Taco Bell Cantina Weddings Come True Starting Today|date=August 7, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> Taco Bell Cantina currently has locations in [[San Francisco]], [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[Chicago]] (2 locations), [[Las Vegas]], [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], [[Fayetteville, Arkansas|Fayetteville]], [[Cincinnati]], [[Cleveland]], [[Atlanta]], [[Newport Beach]], [[San Diego]], [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], [[Sacramento]], [[Nashville]], with plans to open soon in [[Somerville, Massachusetts|Somerville]], Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://boston.eater.com/2017/1/13/14266798/taco-bell-cantina-davis-square|title=Somerville May Get a Boozy Taco Bell Cantina|work=Eater Boston|access-date=December 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210072116/https://boston.eater.com/2017/1/13/14266798/taco-bell-cantina-davis-square|archive-date=December 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://outletsattheborder.com/store/taco-bell-cantina/|title=Taco Bell Cantina |date=August 11, 2017|language=en-US|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=March 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330042232/https://outletsattheborder.com/store/taco-bell-cantina/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2020, Taco Bell announced that it would be converting 3 of its suburban stores into Cantinas this year as part of a test run.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/05/taco-bell-will-test-its-alcohol-serving-cantina-locations-in-suburbs.html|title=Taco Bell will test its alcohol-serving Cantina locations in the suburbs|last=Lucas|first=Amelia|date=March 5, 2020|website=CNBC|access-date=March 5, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2016, Taco Bell introduced private beta testing of an artificial intelligence bot on the messaging platform [[Slack (software)|Slack]] designed to take orders of select menu items from local Taco Bell locations and have the orders delivered. Taco Bell planned to have a wider roll-out of this functionality in the coming months.{{When|date=October 2022}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/6/11378258/taco-bell-ai-bot-slack-crunchwrap-supreme|title=Taco Bell built a bot that will order Crunchwrap Supremes for you|last=Statt|first=Nick|date=April 6, 2016|website=The Verge|access-date=May 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408041648/http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/6/11378258/taco-bell-ai-bot-slack-crunchwrap-supreme|archive-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref>

Previously, Taco Bell's hot sauces were only available in packets at the chain itself. In February 2014, Taco Bell made its hot sauces available at grocery stores, sold in bottles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/24/taco-bell-hot-sauce_n_4847996.html|title=Taco Bell Hot Sauce Is Now Available By The Bottle|date=February 24, 2014|website=The Huffington Post|access-date=September 13, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919221930/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/24/taco-bell-hot-sauce_n_4847996.html|archive-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> These would be followed by further grocery store products including chips in May 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/03/22/snacking-alert-taco-bell-launches-line-tortilla-chips/448526002/ |last1=Meyer |first1=Zlati |title=Snacking alert: Taco Bell launches a line of tortilla chips |website=USA Today |date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref> and shredded cheese in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharkey |first1=Bridget |title=You Can Now Buy Taco Bell Shredded Cheeses At The Grocery Store |url=https://www.simplemost.com/you-can-now-buy-taco-bell-shredded-cheeses-at-the-grocery-store/ |website=Simplemost |date=January 28, 2019 |access-date=September 19, 2019 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203081308/https://www.simplemost.com/you-can-now-buy-taco-bell-shredded-cheeses-at-the-grocery-store/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>  In September 2016, Taco Bell opened a pop-up in New York City in the [[SoHo, Manhattan]] area called the Taco Bell VR Arcade. Taco Bell and VR fans could demo [[PlayStation VR]], games, and food.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/taco-bells-nyc-pop-vr-arcade-features-lots-tacos-and-virtual-shark-attack-173507 |title=Taco Bell's NYC Pop-Up VR Arcade Features Lots of Tacos and a Virtual Shark Attack |last=Birkner |first=Christine |magazine=Adweek |date=September 15, 2016 |access-date=September 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916193705/http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/taco-bells-nyc-pop-vr-arcade-features-lots-tacos-and-virtual-shark-attack-173507 |archive-date=September 16, 2016 }}</ref>

In 2016, Taco Bell built a restaurant out of five [[Cargo containers|cargo shipping containers]] for the Texas music festival, [[South by Southwest]]. Due to popularity, the franchise decided to move the restaurant to a lot in [[South Gate, California]], and it opened to the public a year later. The restaurant features Taco Bell's full menu, with outdoor seating, a walk-up window, and a drive-thru, but no indoor seating unlike regular Taco Bell locations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/2016/10/20/worlds-first-taco-bell-in-a-shipping-container-coming-to-southern-california/|title=World's first Taco Bell in a shipping container coming to Southern California|date=October 20, 2016|work=Orange County Register|access-date=December 10, 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211160901/http://www.ocregister.com/2016/10/20/worlds-first-taco-bell-in-a-shipping-container-coming-to-southern-california/|archive-date=December 11, 2017}}</ref> Taco Bell announced plans in November 2017 to open 300 more urban and Cantina-style locations by 2022, with 50 to be located about New York City's five boroughs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://patch.com/new-york/midtown-nyc/taco-bell-open-50-new-york-city-locations-2022|title=Taco Bell To Open 50 New York City Locations By 2022|date=September 15, 2017|work=Midtown Manhattan, NY Patch|access-date=December 9, 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210071823/https://patch.com/new-york/midtown-nyc/taco-bell-open-50-new-york-city-locations-2022|archive-date=December 10, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, Taco Bell opened a pop-up hotel called "The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort" for one weekend in August. Upon the announcement, the hotel was booked up in two minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/28/business/taco-bell-hotel-sells-out-in-2-minutes-trnd/index.html |last1=Marples |first1=Megan |last2=Ahmed |first2=Saheed |title=Pop-Up Taco Bell hotel sells out in 2 minutes |website=CNN |date=June 28, 2019 |access-date=September 7, 2019 }}</ref>

Taco Bell announced plans to stay in its current corporate headquarters in Irvine until 2030.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2019/02/01/taco-bell-commits-to-staying-in-its-irvine-headquarters/ |title=Taco Bell commits to staying in its Irvine headquarters |work=Orange County Register |date=February 1, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2019}}</ref>