Taco Bell, the quick-service restaurant chain that started nearly 60 years ago and now is a part of Yum! Brands, has set some bold initiatives for 2020. These objectives touch on sustainability, employee satisfaction, corporate social responsibility, and more.
Taco Bell, which will place recycling and/or composting bins at all restaurants where possible this year, has pledged to make all of its consumer-facing packaging recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025.
Of the commitments, perhaps the one that stands out the most is the plan to test a $100,000 salary for general managers of company-owned restaurants in select markets later this year. The company also now is offering 24 hours of paid sick time per year for all corporate-owned restaurant employees. Additionally, Taco Bell has introduced “Makers,” a leadership experience program for team members. The goal for all of these measures, according to a company news release, is “to enhance restaurant performance and employee satisfaction and support recruitment and retention.”
The Taco Bell Foundation will award $6 million in Live Mas Scholarships to fans and team members in 2020, bringing its total of awarded scholarships to $17 million over five years.
Taco Bell also says it will continue its commitment to accessible vegetarian options, building on last year’s introduction of a dedicated vegetarian menu.
Taco Bell has a tradition of releasing “resolutions” for the new year. In 2019, the brand was focused on using simpler, higher quality ingredients, ensuring all its beef was sustainable, improving recycling efforts, being better for vegetarians and flexitarians, and creating more jobs in the United States. The yearly goals are chosen to reflect what matters most to fans, team members, and the brand.
“It’s no secret that Taco Bell marches to the beat of its own drum, and we provide our fans with unexpected experiences year after year. From the Doritos®️ Locos Taco to the Taco Bell Hotel, we want to continue to lead in creativity on our menus, in our restaurants and beyond,” Mark King, Taco Bell CEO, said in the release. “As Taco Bell expands its footprint, our responsibility to drive positive impact increases. Our business growth in the last decade has positioned us to create change for good and implement creative solutions for our planet, our people and our food. We're excited to shake things up and make 2020 even more about what matters most: our purpose.”
Taco Bell says it will provide updates on these initiatives throughout the year, and we at Loyalty360 look forward to seeing the results of these important endeavors.