Taco Bell
Who doesn't love Taco Bell? Well, if you're a fan, listen up! Next year, the famed fast-food company will open up a futuristic new restaurant, dubbed "Taco Bell Defy." This new restaurant will double down on many of the food trends the grew during the pandemic, namely the three D's: digital orders, delivery, and drive-thru. Read on to find out more!
Taco Bell Defy
Taco Bell
According to a recent press release from Taco Bell, the new "Defy" location will do just that - defy expectations. The company developed the new restaurant with Minneapolis-based design firm Vertical Works. Although the 3,000 square-foot restaurant will have roughly the same footprint as other locations, it will look quite different. For starters, it will not have a sit-down section. Instead, it includes four drive-thru lanes. Of course, drive-thru has become the name of the game in pandemic-era dining.
Believe it or not, only one of those four lanes will be used for new orders. The other three lanes will only serve, order pickups made through the official app, or third-party services like Doordash and Uber Eats. While there are no places to sit and eat at Taco Bell Defy, customers can pick up their order on foot, inside a small storefront. To help the flow of customers, there will be easy digital-check in screens where customers can scan a unique QR code for their order. No more touching!
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Taco Bell will revolutionize how its food is made. The drive-thru will even include two-way audio and video technology to ensure every order goes through correctly. Meanwhile, the kitchen will feature a design to "optimize and streamline operations." So also expect lower wait times!
Revolutionary Idea
Taco Bell
To bring the Taco Bell Defy concept to life, the company will lean on its 35-year partnership with Border Foods, one of its biggest franchisees in America. "Partnering with our franchisees to test new concepts is a huge unlock of learning for us," said Mike Grams, Bell's President and Global COO, in the recent press release. "What we learn from the test of this new Defy concept may help shape future Taco Bell restaurants."
In case you don't know, this is far from the first time the company has tried something new. For instance, it has opened up a few Cantinas locations, which also sell alcoholic drinks and merchandise. Can't wait to visit this unique, future-defying restaurant? Well, the first Defy location will open in 2022 in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. In fact, the company has already broken ground! So, for major Bell-heads, they should start booking their trip to Minnesota next summer now!
Sources: MSN, Yahoo! Finance
