News: Taco Bell - Future Menu Plans

NRN has a nice round-up of Taco Bell CEO Greg Creed's talk at the Morgan Stanley Retail and Restaurant Conference. In it, he discusses the future of Taco Bell and upcoming menu additions which include new varieties of Doritos Locos Tacos, the Cantina Bell menu, and a "Happier Hour."

The highlights:

-We already know Doritos Locos will be coming out in Cool Ranch, but it looks like a Hot and Spicy (Doritos Flamas) version is likely to show its face... er shell some time next year.

-Apparently, the Chipotle-like Cantina Bell menu test has been successful and the company plans to roll it out nationwide by the end of the year. Interestingly, he mentioned that the menu has done better in Bakersfield where Chipotle already had a decent footprint.

-Finally, "Happier Hour" is Taco Bell's plan for an in-between-meal menu currently in the planning/testing phase. Slides shown at the presentation included Loaded Grillers (mini burritos that are already being tested at 99 cents each), churros, caramel-apple empanadas (already on the menu), and cookie sandwiches.

Of course, in between all of this, there will be the regular parade of limited-time items that come out of the House of Bell.