The Mexican Pizza was a popular menu item at Taco Bell for many years, but was discontinued in 2020. This led to disappointment among fans who had enjoyed the Mexican Pizza for decades. Taco Bell stated that the removal of the Mexican Pizza was due to efforts to streamline its menu during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there has been a passionate social media campaign by fans asking for its return. This has left many wondering: will Taco Bell bring back the Mexican Pizza?
What is the Mexican Pizza?
The Mexican Pizza first appeared on the Taco Bell menu in 1985. It featured two fried flour tortillas layered with beans, pizza sauce, beef or chicken, tomatoes, and a blend of cheeses. This was topped with more pizza sauce and chopped tomatoes. The Mexican Pizza provided a unique flavor profile that blended elements of Mexican and Italian food. It became popular as an indulgent, meaty menu item with its layers of ingredients. At the time it was introduced, there were few menu items like it being served in the fast food industry.
Why was the Mexican Pizza Discontinued?
In September 2020, Taco Bell announced it was eliminating several menu items including the Mexican Pizza. This was part of an effort to simplify operations and make room for new menu innovations. Having a simplified menu made operations more efficient during the pandemic. Removing less popular items allowed for social distancing in kitchens and made procedures easier for team members.
The Mexican Pizza was discontinued along with other menu items like potatoes and nachos. While still a beloved menu item, it was not as popular as it had been in its heyday through the 80s and 90s. Its multiple ingredients took more time to prepare compared to streamlined menu items. Still, the discontinuation of the Mexican Pizza led to shock and disappointment from its loyal fans who had been ordering it for decades.
Passionate Fan Campaign to Bring It Back
As soon as the discontinuation was announced, many Taco Bell fans took to social media to express love for the Mexican Pizza and ask for its return. A Change.org petition called “Save the Mexican Pizza” received over 171,000 signatures from fans. The petition expressed sadness over losing this menu item that had been available for 35 years. It asked Taco Bell to consider bringing it back.
Famous musical artist Doja Cat also joined the campaign on TikTok, posting a tearful video where she sang a song begging for Taco Bell to restore the Mexican Pizza. Videos with the hashtag #BringBackMexicanPizza received over 43 million views on TikTok, showing the widespread demand. Another viral video came from food blogger @danfromtheinternet, who claimed he would eat a Mexican Pizza every day until its return.
This passion from fans demonstrated that even if the Mexican Pizza did not have high recent purchase rates, it held a special place in Taco Bell culture. The social media campaigns emphasized the nostalgia people felt for this menu item and their hope it would return.
Positive Signals from Taco Bell
By May 2022, Taco Bell had begun indicating that it was considering bringing the Mexican Pizza back. The Taco Bell website even had a page set up at one point for people to register their interest in the return of the Mexican Pizza. Additionally, Mexican Pizza sauce made a limited return at certain locations, signaling Taco Bell was gauging interest.
In August 2022, an interview with Taco Bell’s Chief Food Innovation Officer hinted at the possible return of the Mexican Pizza in 2023. While not a definite confirmation, this gave fans hope that their campaign was working. There are positive signs that after hearing customer feedback, Taco Bell may be reevaluating the discontinuation of the Mexican Pizza.
Why Fans Love the Mexican Pizza
There are several reasons the Mexican Pizza has such an enthusiastic fanbase begging for its return:
Nostalgia – For many, this was a menu item they grew up with. It brings back warm memories of childhood trips and cravings satisfied in their early Taco Bell experiences. Even those who had not eaten it for years felt nostalgic at the loss of a long-time menu option.
Unique Flavors – The Mexican Pizza had a one-of-a-kind taste profile. Sour cream, beef, beans, cheeses, pizza sauce, tomatoes and crunchy tortillas came together for an indulgent combination you could not find elsewhere. Fans say no other menu item really compares or replaces it.
Vegetarian Option – The beans provided a hearty vegetarian and high protein meatless option. For an affordable fast food menu item, it was satisfying for vegetarians in a way limited options are.
Customization – Fans enjoyed the option to customize with added ingredients like jalapeños, black olives, onions and more. This allowed each customer to put their unique twist on the classic.
For these reasons and the underlying strong nostalgic attachment, many are hoping 2023 is the year the Mexican Pizza finally returns to stay on the Taco Bell menu where they feel it belongs.
Likelihood of the Mexican Pizza Returning
Given the hints from Taco Bell executives and the clear positive response to any news of its possible return, the odds seem decent for the Mexican Pizza coming back on the menu. However, its discontinuation was likely a financial decision, so Taco Bell will have to determine if they can justify the operational costs of bringing it back.
Factors that make its return likely:
– Millions of supportive social media mentions and petition signatures show a strong demand.
– Taco Bell seems to be entertaining the idea based on hints in interviews.
– Fans state they will return to purchase the Mexican Pizza specifically if it is restored.
Factors that make its return uncertain:
– Removing it was originally a cost-saving measure, so expenses may still be an obstacle.
– Taco Bell is opening new locations with streamlined kitchens tailored around simpler menus.
– Workers may need special training to start preparing the unique Mexican Pizza ingredients again.
Overall, fans have reason to be optimistic about their chances. However, it is not a guarantee as Taco Bell weighs many factors. Fans may improve the odds by continuing to showcase their passion and commitment to purchasing the Mexican Pizza in large numbers if it returns.
Possible Menu Changes If It Returns
If Taco Bell listens to customer demand and brings the Mexican Pizza back, they will likely carefully consider any adjustments to enhance the experience. Areas they may improve include:
New Advertising Campaign – Taco Bell would likely heavily promote the return to remind fans and attract new customers who never got to try it. TV ads, social media, and in-store promotions would tout the comeback.
Higher Quality Ingredients – The restart could be an opportunity to update the recipe with fresher ingredients – whole beans, artisan pizza sauce, real shredded cheese. This may win over some skeptics.
Special Promotions – Holding weekly deals like “Mexican Pizza Mondays” would encourage customers to purchase on traditionally slower days. Discounted combo deals would also entice volume orders.
Delivery Partnerships – To reach customers who now rely on delivery, close coordination with services like DoorDash and Uber Eats will be vital to maximize home orders.
Vegan Options – Plant-based Mexican Pizza substitutions may draw new audiences. Partnerships with Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods could demonstrate innovation.
The return would need effective marketing and likely adaptations to today’s customer preferences and restaurant industry landscape compared to the 1980s. But the core experience fans love could stay intact while complementing that with smart modernization.
Impact on the Fast Food Industry
If the Mexican Pizza successfully returns with strong sales, it would demonstrate fast food chains can revive discontinued cult classics due to customer demand. This may lead others to reevaluate cutting beloved items and instead consider bringing them back in limited batches.
For example, Burger King may explore the return of limited runs of products like chicken fries or cheesy tots. McDonald’s could rotate in McRib availability based on consumer feedback. Fast food menus are often tight, but periodically offering past hits keeps customers satisfied.
It also shows that brands with a long history like Taco Bell can leverage nostalgia and comfort food to compete with trendier upstarts entering the industry. Reinventing classics appeals across generations from those who grew up on the menu item to today’s teenagers trying something “retro”. These legacy brands have an edge by tapping into fond food memories to create marketing moments and sales.
Finally, it demonstrates that fast food menus need not stay 100% static. Allowing customer voices to influence decisions creates a relationship with buyers. If demand is strong enough, reviewing discontinuation choices maintains goodwill. By showing they are listening, brands provide great PR showing their loyalty to long-time supporters.
Scenarios for the Mexican Pizza’s Return
There are several possible scenarios that may unfold around the restoration of the Mexican Pizza:
Limited Time Offering – As a test, Taco Bell could bring the Mexican Pizza back for just a short 2-3 month window. This creates urgency for fans to purchase while available and allows Taco Bell to evaluate sales response.
Regional Rollout – Restoring the Mexican Pizza on a trial basis in select markets lets kitchens practice preparation while building buzz for a nationwide return. Customers could flock from all over for road trips to get their fix.
Tiered Pricing Structure – To ensure profits on the labor-intensive Mexican Pizza, Taco Bell may introduce new pricing tiers reserving it as a “Premium” menu item at a higher cost. Fans may accept paying a little more.
Whole Menu Reintroduction – Rather than isolating it, Taco Bell could build hype by restoring multiple discontinued items together. This framing ties the Mexican Pizza to wider nostalgia for the brand’s “glory days”.
Permanent Return – The ideal scenario – Taco Bell satisfying customers by making the Mexican Pizza a permanent fixture on the national menu once again after a two year absence.
Any of these strategies provides a way for Taco Bell to capitalize on the demand while mitigating risk. No approach completely eliminates uncertainty, but with smart planning the Mexican Pizza looks ready for a comeback.
Overcoming Potential Hurdles
If Taco Bell decides to reintroduce the Mexican Pizza, they will still need to overcome some challenges:
Supply Chain Issues – Getting adequate quantities of ingredients could be difficult and lead to shortages. Securing supply early helps avoid running out of key components like tortillas, pizza sauce or chili beans.
Hiring and Retraining Staff – Few team members will know how to assemble the discontinued Mexican Pizza. Existing employees or new hires will need training on specialized preparation steps.
Streamlined Processes – Kitchen workflows optimized without the Mexican Pizza may need revamping to ensure stations can execute the additional steps involved. Efficiency is key for consistent customer experiences.
Menu Boards – Outdated menu boards without Mexican Pizza pricing or descriptions will require updated signage. Customers need accurate menus to place their revived favorite orders.
Social Media Monitoring – If supply issues occur, monitoring sites like Twitter can help Taco Bell respond quickly to prevent disappointment. Proactive customer communication is vital.
With plenty of notice and careful coordination, Taco Bell can surmount these challenges. Their seasoned leadership surely expects these complications as standard difficulties any comeback would present.
Customer Recommendations
Here are some suggestions customers themselves have offered in hopes of seeing the Mexican Pizza return:
Set Expectations – Be clear in promotional messaging if supply and staffing issues may occasionally limit availability so customers do not feel misled. Transparency preserves goodwill.
Fair Pricing – Consider subsidizing costs to avoid shocking sticker-sensitive customers with high price hikes. Gradual increases over time may work better.
Spotlight Vegetarian Angle – Emphasize the Mexican Pizza’s hearty meatless bean option that stood out. Capture modern appetites for plant-based options.
Share Stories – Encourage social media testimonials of favorite Mexican Pizza memories over the years. This nostalgic engagement gets fans excited.
Partner with Stores – Collaborate with grocery chains to sell Mexican Pizza ingredients or frozen versions customers can enjoy at home if they miss the window.
Fans are clearly eager to cooperate with Taco Bell to help execute a successful relaunch. Their feelings show the Mexican Pizza has a special place in the hearts of customers, both old and new.
Comparing Other Discontinued Favorites
While the Mexican Pizza has the strongest efforts behind its revival, other Taco Bell specialties discontinued in 2020 also have supporters petitioning for their return:
Potatoes – Spicy potato soft tacos, cheesy potato burritos and other potato items were cut. A Change.org petition with 25,000+ signatures asks Taco Bell to “make potatoes great again”. Potatoes were likely removed to simplify ingredients.
Nachos Supreme – Chips, beans, beef, cheese and tomatoes made this shareable nacho tray a favorite. Fans say it paired perfectly with Taco Bell’s distinctive flavors. It was a casualty of streamlining the menu.
Double Decker Taco – This soft taco sandwiched a beefy hard taco for double crunch. It developed a smaller but passionate fanbase over its decade on the menu. Bringing back beefy, crunchy flavors is requested.
7 Layer Burrito – Refried beans, rice, cheese, guacamole, salsa and more made this burrito a hearty vegetarian favorite. Petitioning fans call it the perfect combination of flavors.
While none saw the online fervor the Mexican Pizza did, these discontinued items also have loyalists who would likely turn out if restored for limited times.
The Future for Taco Bell
Beyond the possible Mexican Pizza return, Taco Bell will continue evolving to meet changing consumer preferences in the fast food and restaurant market. Some areas of focus include:
Digitization – Apps, kiosks, mobile ordering and loyalty programs provide modern convenience. Customers increasingly expect tech-enabled experiences.
Plant-Based Options – Items like the Black Bean Crunchwrap appeal to vegetarian and vegan diners. Taco Bell is also testing a plant-based protein.
Sustainability – Greener packaging and energy initiatives align with consumer demand for eco-conscious brands. This will only grow more vital.
Cultural Relevance – Celebrity partnerships, trendy songs in ads and provocative campaigns make Taco Bell feel current and socially plugged in.
While crafting its future, Taco Bell cannot forget the classics that built its brand over nearly 60 years. Bringing back favorites like the Mexican Pizza or alternates like the Grilled Stuft Nacho shows appreciation for longtime customers. By blending innovation with nostalgia, Taco Bell can thrive for decades more serving fans cravings for both comfort and creativity.
Conclusion
Taco Bell’s removal of the Mexican Pizza left a hole on its menu and in the hearts of customers. Yet determined fans have never given up hope of its return through relentless social media campaigns. There are promising signs Taco Bell is listening and acknowledges the Mexican Pizza’s special place in pop culture and peoples’ lives.
Reviving this discontinued cult favorite likely comes with challenges like updated kitchen workflows. But the boost to customer satisfaction and publicity seems worth the effort for Taco Bell. The chain built bonds over many happy Mexican Pizza meals through the years. Now, customers patiently await the day they can again enjoy the perfect blend of flavors and nostalgia this unique menu item provides.
With strategic planning, communication and honesty around any limitations, Taco Bell has the opportunity to make a lot of people’s dreams come true. Here’s hoping 2023 is the year we finally hear, “The Mexican Pizza is back!”