Taco Bell Shares Brand's Values for 2022

Sustainability and investing in its employees is on Taco Bell's list of "guiding philosophies" for 2022. 

"Usually when you hear us talking about value, it's in reference to our delicious menu," said Mark King, Taco Bell CEO. In 2022, "we'll be talking a lot more about value in a different sense — our brand values. Our purpose, what we care about and what we stand for... We're bringing different ideas, setting new, bold goals and holding ourselves accountable so that, together, we create a future that is craveable, sustainable and equitable."

Here are some of the highlights: 

Redefining what it means to work in fast food

• Taco Bell has taken steps to increasing the average minimum wage to $15 per hour across company restaurants by mid-year 2024.
• Introduced The Entrepreneur, a new leadership development program for general managers in company-owned restaurants who have a base pay of $80,000 with an earning potential of up to $100,000 with bonuses.
• Prioritized mental health by offering complimentary therapy sessions with on-call therapists for corporate employees, both at headquarters and in restaurants.

Making a positive global impact on the planet

• Reducing packaging waste and incorporating more recycled content into packaging.
  • Since launching the TerraCycle program to collect used hot sauce packets, Taco Bell has diverted over 10,000 packets from landfills. Recycle yours here!
  • A portion of Taco Bell restaurants currently repurpose used cooking oil into renewable diesel or renewable polymers, and the company us looking to expand those efforts.
• Taco Bell will play an important role in Yum! Brands' pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050 across restaurants and supply chains.

Sustainability for the Planet

Sustainability will continue to influence menus and how restaurants make decisions in 2022, according to the National Restaurant Association’s annual What’s Hot Culinary Forecast. For example, Chipotle aims to reduce its carbon emissions 50% by 2030. Also leading the charge is Panera Bread, which has a goal to become climate positive by 2050.  Starbucks and McDonald's have cut their use of "problematic plastic" by 57% between 2018 and 2020. 

Removing roadblocks to education

• Taco Bell is working with Guild Education to offer free undergraduate degrees to team members at corporate-owned locations (100% of tuition covered). Read more about available programs here.
• After reaching its goal of awarding $21 million in Live Más Scholarships by 2021, the Taco Bell Foundation has up to $7 million more in scholarships is up for grabs. See details, eligibility criteria and apply by January 11, 2022.
• The Taco Bell Foundation also plans to award up to $7 million in grants to local charities nationwide and invest in bringing the next generation's world-changing ideas to life.
  • In fall 2021, Taco Bell Corp. joined the Tent Coalition for Afghan Refugees to provide refugees with immediate job opportunities.

Addressing racial equity and driving change

• Hired Katrina Thornton as Chief Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer.
• In 2021, we prioritized racial diversity in our marketing campaigns. We were able to engage and increase underrepresented minority talent for at least 25% of on-screen, voice over, model and influencer appearances. I
• As part of Yum! Brands' $100 million Unlocking Opportunity Initiative commitment, Taco Bell will implement new programs to produce equity, fairness, inclusion and belonging inside the company.

More Menu Options

• Crafting plant-based menu items everyone loves
  • Partnering with Beyond Meat to develop and introduce a plant-based protein that is completely new to the national QSR space. 
    • Working with partners and suppliers to identify effective approaches to reducing antibiotics in its U.S. and Canada beef supply chain by 25% by 2025.