IRVINE, Calif., June 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Taco Bell
continues its rapid global expansion by signing its first-ever master franchise agreements, continuing its path to becoming a
$15 billion brand by 2022.
Today, Taco Bell, the world's largest restaurant chain in the Mexican category, announced that the brand, in collaboration
with two key franchisees, Sforza Holding Group in São Paulo, Brazil and Casual Brands Group
(CBG) in Spain, entered into its first master franchise agreements. These deals make both groups
two of the largest Taco Bell franchisees globally by store count.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with two talented organizations in our first two master franchise agreements. This growth
will take us further down the path of becoming a truly global brand," said Liz Williams,
President, Taco Bell International. "We have found two strong partners in both Sforza and CBG, and I am confident they will take
our California-inspired brand to new heights in the coming decade."
Sforza Holding Group, led by founder and CEO Carlos Wizard Martins and his son, Taco Bell
Brazil CEO Lincoln Martins, began working with Taco Bell International in 2016. The Martins
family, who own and operate all Taco Bell restaurants currently open in Brazil, set a Taco Bell
development record with the opening of more than 20 restaurants in less than two years. By 2027, the state of São Paulo,
Brazil will be home to more than 200 Taco Bell restaurants.
CBG, led by CEO Ignacio Mora-Figueroa, has been working with the Taco Bell brand since 2008 and
currently owns and operates 40 Taco Bell restaurants throughout Spain. In 2016, CBG won Taco
Bell's prestigious International Franchisee of the Year Award, which recognized them as a valuable global partner. The agreement
signed between Taco Bell and CBG guarantees that more than 200 restaurants will be built over the next decade, adding more than
4,200 new jobs in Spain.
This news comes after a period of rapid expansion from the brand, having opened eight new markets since 2016, including
China, Australia, Finland,
the Netherlands, Scotland, Sri
Lanka, Romania and most recently, Peru. By the end of
2018, Taco Bell will have more than 500 restaurants in 27 markets around the world, with the goal of expanding the brand's
international footprint to 1,000 restaurants by 2022. In the United States, the brand and its
franchisees operate more than 7,000 restaurants. By 2022, the brand plans to operate 9,000 restaurants globally.
About Taco Bell International - Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), is the world's leading
Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant (QSR) brand. Taco Bell serves made-to-order and customizable tacos and burritos and
other specialties with bold flavours, quality ingredients, breakthrough value, and best-in-class customer service to over 40
million customers weekly across the globe. There are currently more than 400 Taco Bell restaurants across 27 countries outside of
the United States, with the goal of expanding the brand's international presence to 1,000
restaurants by 2022. The Company and its franchisees operate more than 7,000 restaurants, generating more than $9B in sales. By 2022, the brand plans to become a $15B company in global system
sales with 9,000 restaurants globally.
CONTACT:
Richa Anand – Taco Bell Corp.
+1-949-857-4652
Richa.Anand@yum.com
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SOURCE Taco Bell Corp.