Interview Manager TB

Howdy folks,

Today we had an interview with the Manager of the Taco Bell. We have asked her questions about the following items:

- Target market
- Innovation
- Location
- Communication
- Market
- Culture
- TB Abroad

We are highly satisfied with the results of the interview. We will process the answers as soon as possible and will publish them on our weblog.

In addition we have prepared interview questions for TB's customers. We will undertake these interviews in the late afternoon and will also publish these results/conclusions as soon as possible.

xoxo
Gossip Girl

Results Interview Manager Taco Bell
On July 30th we had an appointment with the manager of Taco bell in Tempe, Marie-ann Gonzales.

The idea behind taco Bell is good service and great food. Those are the most important factors that make the company successful.

Target market
The average customer can be described as a white person or from Arabian or Mexican origin. Because this unit is located near ASU, many young people are customers. The average age in the States is between 30 and 40 years.

Innovation
People from Europe or Asia who have never been in the States and go out to grab something to eat will be surprised that that only have to buy a drink once. In 1988 Gen Bell came up with the idea to give everybody a free refill. Company’s around Taco Bell saw how successful it was and introduced it in their company as well. Nowadays, a customer can get a refill at almost every restaurant.

Innovation is not only led by the customer but there is also a team of professionals that work for the company and is in charge of innovation from the inside out.
Every month they come out with new products. Before the products can be sold, they will be tested on customers. The staff has a chance to experience the new product as well, so that they can share their opinion with the customer. Most of the new products are successful and will stay on the menu. One of their innovations was the Fresco style. This low calories program has been running for few years now.

Location
Besides new products on a regular base, the location is very important. Taco bell is almost always located on a corner in a city or centre. The reason for this is that many people will pass by this location. You will rarely find a Taco Bell next to a freeway.

Communication
With their slogan “Think outside the bun” they are trying to distinguish themselves from their competitors. It refers to “Think outside the box”.

They try to welcome the customer as a friend by saying “Hey, how are you today” instead of “Welcome to Taco Bell”. This is far more personal. Also good food, good service and a smile makes sure that customers will come back. This begins with hiring good staff. New empoyees need to take a couple tests and do an interview.
Customers can give their opinion about the service in a weekly survey.

The market
Taco Bell has quite some competitors as the fast food industry is really expanded in the United States. Taco Bells main competitors are Wendy’s and Del Taco.
Del Taco, Wendy’s and Taco Bell have had the same owner in the past which could explain the competitiveness amongst each other.
Taco Bell distinguishes itself from the overload of fast-food restaurants by offering freshly prepared, Mexican food. Customers like Taco Bell due to its Mexican style. Another aspect that makes people want to go to Taco Bell is the fact that almost everyone likes tacos. The word is international and therefore identifiable for all cultures and nationalities.

The manager of Taco Bell told us that the restaurant is the busiest between 11am and 2pm and between 23pm till 1am. So the main focus of Taco Bell is on serving people’s lunch and dinner. Some years ago, Taco Bell also offered breakfast, but due to disappointing sell results, the company decided to stop purchasing this service.

Culture
During our visits to Taco Bell we have experienced that the Mexican influence is very big. Even though the whole concept of Taco Bell is based on Mexican food, the concept is fully American. The concept was founded in 1972 in California by a man named Glenn Bell. The fact that the manager we spoke has a Mexican background was a coincidence.

Taco Bell abroad
The reason why Taco Bell is such successful is because of the promotion Taco Bell uses. The company is always focusing on marketing. Another aspect is the fact that the customer is always the most important of all. Taco Bell would do anything in order to make sure that the customers of the restaurants are satisfied.

Apart from Taco Bell in the United States, Taco Bell is also very successful in other parts of the world. The success of Taco Bell abroad is not comparable to the success that Taco Bell has it in the United States. The reason for this is primarily because of the American culture. Fast food plays such an important part in the culture of the Americans.

Taco Bell is not entirely the same everywhere in the world. The food is adjusted on the particular culture. To give some examples;
- in the USA, the free refill is very common. This was invented by Taco Bell in 1988. They were the first company that offered its clients the free refill. This would be odd in Europe.
- In India, the people eat way more vegetables than in other parts of the world. Taco Bell over there offers therefore products which contain a lot of vegetables.