Taco Bell has already stolen the spotlight this year with big menu announcements, and we are only halfway through January. According to the latest news that the chain wants to make some new chicken items in 2021.
World Food Innovation Director Liz Matthews said Business Insider that Taco Bell intends to “interrupt” the category of chicken sandwiches with significant renewal in chicken, but that it remains on the details and timeline. (Related: McDonald’s makes these 8 major upgrades.)
This will be the official entry to Taco Bell from the prestigious Chicken Sandwich Wars – a fierce competition among fast food chains for America’s best chicken sandwich. Chick-fil-A and Popeyes are currently considered the top two brands in the arena, while others like McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King tested last year or launched their own chicken sandwiches.
“I like watching the participants,” Matthews said in a recent interview. Business Insider. “I think a lot of players out there are doing good work, but what I would say is that we will interrupt it with what we are going to do on chicken.”
Taco Bell has already achieved success with crispy chicken items. The Naked Chicken Chalupa, where a piece of fried chicken replaces the shell, has become a favorite for fans and is a repeated limited time for the chain.
The chicken items are not the only innovation that Taco Bell has put on the map this year. This week, the chain announced the return of March of two beloved potato items – Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes and Spicy Potato Soft Tacos – that were removed from the menu last year.
The fast food chain has also unveiled a new partnership with Beyond Meat, which will be in the US market for plant meat for the first time.
“The return of our beloved potatoes is just the first step in showing our fans the strong sustained commitment to vegetarians we are making this year,” Matthews said in the announcement. “We’re been a leader in the vegetarian space for a long time, but this year we have more meatless options that vegetarians, rookies and even carnivores will enjoy.”
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