TacoTime Franchise Stays Ahead of Industry Trends in 2017

Beloved Mexican food franchise doesn’t have to change a thing to be well ahead of consumer food trends in 2017

There is a reason why TacoTime^® is a treasure to thousands of folks in the Pacific Northwest, where the 57-year-old brand has grown to nearly 300 locations — the food really is that good.

In 1960, when TacoTime was founded, the brand made a promise that we have proudly kept since the first taco was served near the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Oregon: real, fresh ingredients make better food. While this may sound obvious, TacoTime’s commitment to not cutting corners sets us apart in the QSR category.

By taking the time to do it right and preparing a large majority of the menu in-house daily, TacoTime is ahead of industry trends for 2017. According to Forbes, consumers now crave more and more transparency in the food they are eating and are looking to reward brands that go the extra mile in finding healthier, fresher and higher quality food items. In fact, there’s an entire new generation of consumers who want their meals prepared for them in a home-style fashion:

“A new generation is about to take the food scene by storm, leaving Millennials with their constant search for what’s next in the dust,” Forbes reports in an article entitled, “Ten Food Trends That Will Shape 2017.” “Gen Z is more likely to eat fresh home-cooked meals and healthier QSR offerings and think that cooking is cool.”

TacoTime has always thought that cooking was cool and believes in taking the time to do it right. The chips and taco shells are made fresh in the kitchen every morning, and TacoTime’s beloved salsas are made fresh daily. Each one of TacoTime’s world-famous Crisp Burritos is rolled by hand and cooked to order, as are the craveable Mexi-Fries^®. TacoTime uses produce that is the freshest and ripest available — often locally sourced — and we use only 100% boneless, skinless all-white meat chicken and top-quality lean ground beef. Another key differentiator is that TacoTime provides vegetarian options, offers a full kids’ menu and features a wide variety of seasonal and limited-time offerings that keep the menu fresh and the wildly enthusiastic customers excited to come back.

“The key difference with TacoTime is the brand’s taste profile,” says Kevin Gingrich, Brand President of TacoTime and owner of several TacoTime franchise locations in Utah. “It tastes good because of the seasonings that we have, which are proprietary spice blends created for TacoTime. But a bigger unique factor is how many items we make in-house. From the hand-rolled Crisp Burritos, to making the taco shells — which most people don’t even know that we do — to the array of other items that are made in-house, from scratch. We make the salsas and cook the taco meat every two hours. The norm in the QSR space is where brands bring in products through the back door, maybe reheat it or just pour it out of a bag. We don’t do that. We cook it in-house, and that’s why it tastes better.”

TacoTime is ramping up for a nationwide expansion. While the majority of TacoTime expansion over the years has been the result of organic interest in bringing the brand to new communities, TacoTime is entirely focused on franchising efforts. In 2016, TacoTime launched its new franchise recruitment website to grow the brand beyond its roots in the Pacific Northwest, where nearly 300 locations are open. The efforts have been paying off: TacoTime has a full pipeline of savvy investors and first-time entrepreneurs who are enthusiastic about bringing the beloved TacoTime to their towns and cities.

“We’re very excited to have so much interest in the brand from entrepreneurs across the country,” says Nicole Rayborn, Director of Franchise Development with TacoTime. “In 2017, we plan to target Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and West Virginia for expansion, as well as strengthen the foothold in the Pacific Northwest. We’re looking forward to having another exceptional year of adding new franchise owners to the TacoTime family.”

Ready to open a TacoTime franchise in your community?

TacoTime is ready for the spotlight. With nearly 300 locations in the United States and Canada, the Mexican food franchise is ready to break out of its home turf in the Pacific Northwest and hit the national stage. TacoTime is looking for entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing authentic and affordable Mexican food to their communities. To learn more about TacoTime, visit the Franchise Information Portal or request the free Franchise Information Report.