SHANGHAI, Jan. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China
Holdings, Inc. ("Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC), and Taco Bell Corp., the
world's largest Mexican-inspired restaurant chain, today announced
that they have opened the first Taco Bell restaurant in the second
largest economy in the world: China. The inaugural restaurant is
located near Shanghai's landmark
Oriental Pearl Tower in the Lujiazui area, the city's central
business district, and is Taco Bell's latest international market
entry as it grows the brand globally.
"We are thrilled to bring Taco Bell to China
with the official opening of the first restaurant at a
spectacular location in Shanghai," said Micky Pant, Chief
Executive Officer of Yum
China. "Consumers in China today want the best the world has to
offer, and Taco Bell is one of the most exciting brands
anywhere. Leveraging our deep insights into Chinese consumer
preferences, developed from close to 30 years operating in this
market, we thoroughly researched and fine-tuned the Taco
Bell menu for China and the initial response from customers is very
encouraging."
The menu features the brand's favorites that have
been adapted to local tastes. High quality ingredients coupled
with newly developed sauces create items such as the Shrimp and
Avocado Burrito unique to Taco Bell restaurants in China. The Crunchy Taco
Supreme is now loaded with Taco
Bell's signature Nacho Cheese Sauce and the Volcano
Chicken Burrito features
spicy Sriracha sauce.
Customers can also order shared plates featuring
seasoned nacho chips, spicy fried chicken, and Mexican
fries. These menu items pair perfectly with
a variety of alcoholic beverages including
ice-cold beer on draft and specialty cocktails like the Margarita
and the Mojito. The Mexican inspired classics
are made-to-order in a transparent,
open kitchen where fans can see their
food being handmade. Self-order kiosks allow consumers to
study the menu and beat the rush at peak hours. The unique menu and
ambience combine to create a totally unique and fun experience for
Chinese consumers.
The official launch of the restaurant follows the soft opening
during which Taco Bell fans have been sharing their love for the
brand through social media posts, blogs, and videos. Over 1,000
fans participated in a selfie soft opening promotion and continue
to voice their excitement for the brand's arrival in China.
Mr. Pant continued, "Taco Bell is an innovative brand with a
strong heritage that we believe will resonate well with Chinese
millennials. Built around the concept of 'Live Mas' --
literally meaning 'Live More' -- Taco Bell encourages its
customers to try things they've never tried before. I look forward
to creating experiences that surprise and delight people as we
expand the Taco Bell brand in China."
The Shanghai restaurant
showcases Taco Bell's classic California inspired look and design, perfect
for enjoying meals worth sharing with friends and groups. The
restaurant features guitars, graffiti art and surfboards hanging
from the ceiling, while also integrating advanced technology
throughout, including free Wi-Fi, digital ordering kiosks, digital
menu boards and a range of payment options, providing customers
with a fully immersive and convenient in-restaurant experience.
"Building restaurants in new international markets is a key
component to the overall growth and evolution of Taco Bell and
we've just scratched the surface of our global unit expansion
potential," said Brian Niccol, Chief
Executive Officer of Taco Bell Corp. "The opening of this Taco Bell
restaurant in China is an exciting
milestone for the brand as this market holds tremendous growth
potential. We look forward to supporting Yum China as it builds Taco Bell's presence in
the country."
Currently, Taco Bell has more than 7,000 restaurants in the
world with over 300 in 26 countries outside of the United States. Taco Bell's first
restaurant in China is part of the
brand's global growth strategy of reaching 1,000 restaurants
internationally by 2022.
Photos and video of the Taco Bell restaurant in Shanghai can be downloaded at the following
link: http://www.yumchina.com/uploadfile/tacobell.rar
About Yum China Holdings
Yum China Holdings, Inc., with executive offices in Shanghai, China, is a licensee of Yum! Brands
in mainland China. It has exclusive rights in mainland China to
KFC, China's leading quick-service restaurant concept, Pizza Hut,
the leading casual dining restaurant brand in China, and Taco Bell, which opened in
China at the end of 2016.
Yum China also owns the Little Sheep
and East Dawning concepts outright. Yum
China is well positioned for growth thanks to its strong
competitive position, integration of its brands into Chinese
popular culture and consumers' daily lives, expanding geographic
footprint in China and existing
operational expertise. It has a strong capital position, no
external debt and expects to continue growing its system sales and
profit by adding new restaurants and through growing same-store
sales. Yum China has more than 7,300
restaurants and more than 400,000 employees in over 1,100 cities,
and generated over $8 billion in
system sales in 2015. A new generation of younger consumers who are
digitally sophisticated and brand driven are fueling growth in
consumption in China. The ongoing
growth of the middle class and urban population in China is expected to create the world's
largest market for restaurant brands, with Yum China poised to be the market leader.
About Taco Bell Corp.
Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM),
is the leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant (QSR)
brand in the United States. From
breakfast to late night, Taco Bell serves made-to-order and
customizable tacos and burritos, among other craveable choices, and
is the first QSR restaurant to offer American Vegetarian
Association (AVA)-certified menu items. Taco Bell and its more than
350 franchise organizations proudly serve over 42 million customers
each week through 7,000 restaurants across the United States, as well as through
its mobile, desktop and delivery ordering
services. Outside the United
States, Taco Bell has over 300 restaurants, with plans to
add 1,000 more restaurants internationally within the next decade.
The brand encourages its fans to "Live Mas" and connects with them
through sports, gaming and new music via its Feed The
Beat® music program. Taco Bell also provides education
opportunities and serves the community through its nonprofit
organization, the Taco Bell® Foundation™, and
connects fans with their passions through programs such as
the Live Mas Scholarship program. In 2016, Taco Bell was
named as one of Fast Company's Top 10 Most
Innovative Companies in the World.
Like: Facebook.com/tacobell --
Follow: @TacoBell (Twitter), tacobell (Instagram)
and tacobell (Snapchat) --
Subscribe: YouTube.com/tacobell --
Explore: ta.co
About Yum! Brands
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville,
Kentucky, has nearly 43,000 restaurants in 135 countries and
territories and is one of the Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders
in North America. The Company's
restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell – are the global
leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories.
Worldwide, the Yum! Brands system opens over six new restaurants
per day on average, making it a leader in global retail
development.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this communication contain
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to
be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally
can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to
historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words
such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may,"
"could," "intend," "belief," "plan," "estimate," "target,"
"predict," "likely," "will," "should," "forecast," "outlook" or
similar terminology. These statements are based on current
estimates and assumptions made by Yum
China or Taco Bell in light of their experience and
perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected
future developments, as well as other factors that are believed to
be appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there
can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove
to be correct. Forward-looking statements include, without
limitation, statements regarding the future business plans and
earnings and performance of Yum
China and Taco Bell, and anticipated effects of population
and macroeconomic trends. Forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and
unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and
could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of the
expectations, estimates or assumptions expressed herein will be
achieved. The forward-looking statements are only made as of the
date indicated on the relevant materials, and Yum China, Yum! Brands and Taco Bell disclaim
any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to
reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Numerous factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation: whether Yum China or
Taco Bell is able to achieve development goals at the times and in
the amounts currently anticipated, if at all, the success of
marketing campaigns and product innovation, the ability to maintain
food safety and quality control systems, the ability to control
costs and expenses, including tax costs, as well as changes in
political, economic and regulatory conditions in China and elsewhere. In addition, other risks
and uncertainties not presently known or that are currently
believed to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such
forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should
be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty.
You should consult Yum China's and
Yum! Brands' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
for additional detail about factors that could affect financial and
other results.
Yum China Media Contacts
Yum China Holdings, Inc.
Forest Liu
Director, Financial Media
+86 21 2407 7505
Brunswick Group
Naomi
Tudhope
+86 21 6039 6388
Taco Bell Media Contacts
Taco Bell Corp.
Rob
Poetsch
+1 949 863 3970
rob.poetsch@yum.com
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SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc