Taco Bell to Grow in the U.S.

Yum Brands Inc. (Louisville, Ky.) has revealed plans to expand the Taco Bell chain to as many as 8000 locations in the U.S.

Last year, it opened 86 new domestic Taco Bell restaurants and currently operates 5000 in the U.S.

Though Pizza Hut is the largest of the three Yum brands, with roughly 7700 locations, Taco Bell contributed about two-thirds of the parent company’s operating profits.

In the last two years, Taco Bell has outperformed both Pizza Hut and KFC in the U.S., enjoying a same-stores sales increase of 3 percent in 2013 while the other two each suffered declines of 2 percent. In 2012, Taco Bell’s same-store sales rose 8 percent and comp sales at the other two chains were up just 3 percent.

David Novak, ceo of Yum, said last week that Taco Bell is testing mobile ordering, which could roll out later this year.