Recently, select Taco Bells in our Minnesota market have taken the lead on a very exciting (and seasonally appropriate) project for Taco Bell corporate! The brand’s new Diablo Crispy Chicken Nuggets have been added to the menu of a few of Border’s Taco Bell menus, a process that Corporate calls a Rapid Innovation Test (RIT). 

The Diablo Crispy Chicken Nuggets feature bold flavors, a Taco Bell kick, and signature breading made with crunchy tortilla chips. It’s a totally Taco Bell-ified fried chicken experience!

BORDER’S GOT IT DOWN

This isn’t the first time that Taco Bell Corporate has tapped us to test out a new Taco Bell product. For years, we’ve been their go-to when it comes to giving our guests the latest and greatest in Live Más flavor. In fact, we were one of the first Taco Bell franchisees to begin serving potatoes – which has now become a key ingredient in many of the brand’s best-selling meals!

Ken Lund, a Director of Operations here at Border Foods, shares that there are a few reasons why Corporate continues to trust us with such an important responsibility. For one, our unique demographics and geography play a big role. But more than that, our teams are reliable, organized and efficient. Those qualities – plus our state-of-the-art technology – allow us to easily track how a product is doing and provide the test kitchen with the most accurate, actionable information.

Gay Demaree, another Border Foods Director of Operations, shares that a large part of hosting product tests is all the preparation that has to happen beforehand. Both Ken and Gay are responsible for making sure that our restaurants and teams can take on the challenge of making and serving the new product – in addition to everything else they’re doing. Each team member needs to be specially trained on how to prepare the new menu item and briefed on the recipe’s key qualities – just in case Taco Bell guests have any chicken-related questions!

Consumers like to have something new and different – I think that’s been part of Taco Bell’s success.

– Ken Lund, Director of Operations

While the operational tasks may seem like they’re a behind-the-scenes part of this whole process, they’re actually just as important as the consumer experience to Corporate. Thanks to our firsthand experience with the new menu item, we’re able to go back to the test kitchen team and give them vital feedback about the food’s operational requirements. If a product is too time consuming or confusing to make, it might be impossible to scale nationally.

Gay and Ken also share that after every market test, Corporate hosts a management round table. This gives both Assistant General Managers (AGMs) and Restaurant General Managers (RGMs) of participating restaurants the opportunity to provide feedback, too.

A TRUE TEAM EFFORT

Taco Bell Corporate also puts boots on the ground during market tests. Members of the brand’s test kitchen will visit Minnesota to try the Diablo Crispy Chicken Nuggets in-store themselves. While on site, they’ll also ask team members and guests for real-time taste reactions.

If, after all of that, these tasty chicken nuggets prove to be a success, it’s only just the beginning. The test kitchen team will go back to the drawing board to figure out the supply chain, launch timing, and a nationwide marketing plan. It’s safe to say that there’s a lot that goes into it!

WHAT GUESTS ARE ALREADY SAYING

Participating Taco Bells are already getting great feedback about the Diablo Crispy Chicken Nuggets. “My lips are tingly, but it’s a good burn!” said one guest, while another added: “This feels like Taco Bell is finally competing in the chicken nugget game, and they’re doing it right!”

Want to try the Diablo Crispy Chicken Nuggets for yourself? Visit one of our participating locations in Minnesota today:

This just in: Hudsonville, MI’s first Taco Bell is now open. This project is especially unique, because the new Taco Bell wasn’t built from the ground up. The building was formerly home to a Taco John’s that closed last year, so our team worked hard to Taco Bell-ify the space before its big reveal. 

Today, the location looks slightly different from our others, but Hudsonville residents have no need to worry: we’re still serving up the same world-class food that the Taco Bell brand is known for.

Hudsonville is a growing community, and the city has been investing in their surrounding businesses. We get to be a part of that growth.

Vince Bosscher, Chief Operations Officer

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

In addition to completing some necessary upgrades, over the last few months, we’ve dedicated time to hiring and training the crew who is now serving the Hudsonville community. Over 30 team members spent time learning the ins and outs of the business at our surrounding Taco Bell locations. It’s hard work, but it’s been worth it — we wanted to give Hudsonville nothing but the best from day one!

”I’m most excited for the new jobs and careers we create,” Vince Bosscher, Border Foods Chief Operations Officer shares. “I started as a team member with Taco Bell 27 years ago when one was built near me.”

From team member to COO — now that’s a career worth aspiring to!

The Big Reveal

To celebrate the occasion, Hudsonville offered a special opening day promotion: the first 100 customers who visited the restaurant on Tuesday, October 7, received an exclusive Border Foods Golden Ticket. The Golden Ticket grants them two free tacos per week for an entire year!

We hope you’re hungry, Hudsonville!

We celebrated our “sweet 16” in Sioux Falls, SD as we opened our 16th Taco Bell in the state and 252nd restaurant in the Upper Midwest! Our newest location at 8340 W. 41st Street. opened August 26.

“In 2015, we acquired our first Taco Bell restaurant in Sioux Falls,” says Border Foods President and CEO Aaron Engler. “Now, 10 years later, we’re beyond excited to be opening and can’t wait to welcome local taco fans with the bold flavors and fast, friendly service they’ve come to love.”

To celebrate the new Sioux Falls location opening, the first 50 guess received a free No. 1

combo meal. Did we mention we’re hiring?

Order a meal and get a job when you apply to join our team! Positions available at the Sioux Falls location range from cashiers and cooks to Shift Leads and restaurant management. As a family-owned franchisee with a people-first culture, we pride ourselves on setting team members up for long-term career success. Good food, great jobs — can’t lose!

This month, we break ground on the 100th Taco Bell restaurant in Minnesota, which will be located in Ramsey, MN.

“I’m excited to be a part of this monumental event,” says Chief Operations Officer (COO) Vince Bosscher. “I was here for our 200^th store, I was here when we added a store in our tenth state … now, to celebrate 100 restaurants in our hometown state of Minnesota — where it all began — is amazing!”

Vince shares that much of the satisfaction with this restaurant project comes from the fact that in adding a new location, our company gets to invest in more jobs and more people in the state “that has been so good to Border Foods.”

The Ramsey Taco Bell is scheduled to open this fall.

Minnesota Road Trip Anyone?

In honor of this latest company milestone, we’ve pulled together a fun way to get Taco Bell fans and their families involved! Hop in the car for a little summer road trip around the state to collect stamps from various Taco Bells throughout Minnesota.* Twenty stamps on your passport earns you a free commemorative t-shirt!

Get all the details on the summer passport challenge here. Note: You must download and print our “passport” to participate.

Ready to road trip? Let’s get going! 

*Border Foods’ passport challenge excludes the Marshall, MN Taco Bell.

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to open a brand new Taco Bell restaurant, “Excited, nervous, a little tired,” is how Restaurant General Manager (RGM) Trey Moody summed up his feelings about the grand opening of Border Foods’ much anticipated Taco Bell in Williston, ND.

Supported by Border, Trey moved his wife and 4-year-old daughter from Bismarck, ND to Williston to pursue this career opportunity. It’s safe to say they’ve been welcomed with open arms. “Williston’s been waiting for a Taco Bell for 20-plus years,” Trey shares.

If you have Taco Bell gear on, you’re a celebrity in Williston.

Deb Fraser, Region Coach

Planning for Success

The Williston Taco Bell is currently surrounded by a fair amount of development, but Region Coach (RC) Deb Fraser wasn’t going to let a little roadwork get in the way of our Day One sales goals. She worked with the city to redirect traffic, ensure visible sign placement and open roads just for the occasion!

The result? We’re thrilled to share that Williston broke our opening day sales goal! The previous record was set by our Taco Bell Defy opening in June 2022!

In addition to directing traffic, we also brought in teams from North Dakota, Michigan and western Minnesota to help support sales on opening day. “Best of the best tacos serving this great town,” Deb says.

Williston has been so supportive of our new Taco Bell. – Deb Fraser, Region Coach

Deb Fraser, Region Coach

Warm Welcome

Not only has the city of Williston been waiting years for a Taco Bell, we’ve been waiting years to open one! This combined excitement made for a thrilling grand opening for everyone involved. “This town has been buzzing,” Deb says. “It’s been super fun.” 

This has been a long time coming for our community.

Brockelle Otte, President & CEO of Williston Area Chamber of Commerce.

And boy did this town turn out for tacos! Guests were lined up as early as 8 a.m. with some proudly showing off Taco Bell-themed tattoos!

Also in attendance was the President & CEO of the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce, Brockelle Otte. “There is a lot of excitement and hype for Taco Bell today,” she shares. 

Opening a new Taco Bell restaurant is about more than just bringing tacos to town. “It’s a great sign of economic growth,” says Brockelle. “It’s really signifying that Williston is on the ‘up and up’ and I’m excited to see it.”

Thanks for the kind reception, Williston! 

When you’ve been in business for nearly 40 years, you get to celebrate a bunch of awesome milestones along the way. Today, we‘re thrilled to share that we’ve grown to 250 Taco Bells in 10 states!

No. 250 opened July 23 in Davenport, IA. Nicknamed “Kimmy” because of its location on Kimberly Road, those intimately involved in the Quad Cities market know this particular restaurant opening marks a company first. Border Foods entered the Quad Cities in 2019 with the purchase of 13 Taco Bells in the area, but this is the first time we’ve built and opened a brand new location there!

In speaking with Director of Operations Kasey Baeza, it becomes obvious that it all came down to patience on this one. According to her, this opening has been made possible by the company’s dedication to stabilizing operations in the region. Up to this point, we’ve been running existing restaurants in the Quad Cities. But thanks to the investments made in finding the right people, strengthening the bench and maintaining the facilities in place, we built up enough stability to open our own store!

Kasey says it’s hard to put the significance of this milestone into words when you think about the rich history of the company. When she joined us just six years ago, there were only 184 locations. 

“It’s been really incredible being a part of this legacy,” Kasey says with a nod to Co-founders Jeff and Lee Engler. 

Davenport’s historic grand opening included live music, a ribbon cutting, refreshments, a raffle for commemorative Border Foods t-shirts, and other giveaways. CEO and President Aaron Engler provided remarks, along with several local officials.

Forging Ahead

Border Foods continues to look at expansion, according to Aaron. Growing up in the family business, he remembers those early years “when Lee had a one-room office in the basement of an office building … just him and his assistant.”

Aaron started working for our Maple Grove Taco Bell at age 15. “I don’t even know how many restaurants we had at the time, but there’s no way I’d have told you we’d be doing a ribbon cutting for our 250^th restaurant!”

Aaron continues, “Each restaurant proves we can scale without sacrificing our culture or the Border way. The 250^th restaurant is the start to the next 250!”

Opening our 250th location, it’s pretty incredible … success and growth has been built on truly doing the right thing.

Kasey Baeza, Director of Operations

“We want to continue to grow the Border family in every state that we operate in,” says Chief Operations Officer (COO) Vince Bosscher, who’s been with the company for seven years and remembers the 200^th restaurant opening. “The more stores that we open means the more people we get to hire … which means the more lives we get to impact with career paths and leadership development. ‘Making lives better’ is something we love to do and we’re going to do it with tacos!”

“For me, I’m just very proud of the Region 4 team, very proud of Jen,” says Kasey. “It’s been a journey … to get to a place where the company can really consider building a store there. [We] couldn’t do it without building a really stable foundation of people.”

Wanted: New Hires

According to Region Coach Jen Copeland, the hiring never stops! Though Davenport opened with a solid restaurant team under the helm of Restaurant General Manager (RGM) Brandon Wagner (a former “RGM of the Year”), we still have openings! Grab a taco and snag a job with a company who cares. Check out available positions here.

If you allow people to be your foundation, they’ll continue to raise you up.

Kasey Baeza, Director of Operations

As the new year unfolds, there’s no better time to reflect on the stories that captivated us most in 2024. From remarkable team member journeys to inspiring community initiatives, each of these blog posts represents a chapter in the ongoing story of Border Foods. Here are our top 10 most-read articles from the past year, starting with the most popular!

1. Remodeling Season Revs Up

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Border Foods launched into 2024 full throttle, rolling out fresh restaurant remodels that improved both efficiency and comfort. Discover how our updated store designs continue to elevate the guest experience and energize our teams.

2. A Golden Opportunity for GMs & ACs

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From leadership conferences to professional development workshops, we offered our General Managers and Area Coaches countless ways to refine their skills. Get the inside scoop on why 2024 was a year of golden opportunities for our rising stars.

3. Area Coach Nicole Leads by Example

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This inspiring feature on Area Coach Nicole shows how mentorship, encouragement, and leading from the front can spark team success. Learn what sets her approach apart and why her leadership style resonated with so many readers.

4. Always a Blast at Border’s BOTB

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Border’s BOTB (Best of the Best) brought fun, flair, and friendly competition to the forefront this year. Revisit the most memorable moments and find out why this rewards trip earned a top spot on our blog leaderboard.

5. Growing Up With Taco Bell: Dominic’s Story

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Dominic’s heartfelt tale of evolving from a wide-eyed new hire into a confident leader reminded us all that growth often happens when we least expect it. His personal journey is proof that with hard work and a supportive culture, any dream can become reality.

6. Ed Heskett Retires After 50 Years in QSR Industry

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Few individuals leave as lasting an impression as Ed. After half a century shaping the quick-service world, his retirement celebration became a heartfelt tribute to service, friendship, and a career defined by passion and perseverance.

7. Volunteering in Our Communities

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From local food drives to youth mentorship programs, our team gave back in a big way. This roundup of volunteer efforts highlighted the heart and generosity of our employees, showing that making a difference is as much a part of Border Foods as making great meals.

8. Maria Flores Continues Flourishing

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In a year full of standout performances, Maria’s continued professional growth inspired many. Her commitment to learning, improving, and supporting her colleagues illustrates how true success is always a team effort.

9. Susy Leads by Example in Maple Grove

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At our Maple Grove location, Susy’s leadership and enthusiasm set a new standard. Delve into how her focus on integrity, empathy, and understanding made an impact on her team and propelled her to the forefront of this year’s most read stories.

10. 2023: Another One for the Books

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Before we took on 2024, this retrospective highlighted the achievements and milestones that positioned us for even greater success. Revisit the wins and lessons that made 2023 a springboard into a future filled with possibilities.

Please join us in celebrating the grand opening of our newest Taco Bell restaurant in St. Croix Falls, WI, which took place on Friday, December 6th. This exciting event marked a milestone for Border Foods, as the store achieved record-breaking sales in less than 11 hours on its first day!

Nestled in the heart of this charming small town, the new location is surrounded by scenic views and sits near the beautiful Interstate State Park. Located on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin along Highway 8, just an hour north of the Twin Cities, this prime spot is already attracting both locals and tourists. With its vibrant surroundings, we are confident this Taco Bell will become a community favorite.

Meet the Team Behind the Success

The St. Croix Falls store launched with a dedicated team of 28 employees, many of whom began their training at sister stores to ensure a seamless opening. The leadership team is led by Brandon Haggard, the RGM, who brings six years of experience and delivered an outstanding performance on opening day with his infectious energy. Supporting him is Samantha Opitz, an RGM in training and external hire with a wealth of hospitality experience. Currently, four MICs are also undergoing training to solidify this strong team foundation. A huge shoutout goes to the support teams from Border Foods locations across the company who played a critical role in making this opening a resounding success.

The Best is Yet to Come

From the moment the doors opened, the St. Croix Falls community showed up in full force. The lobby and drive-thru stayed busy throughout the day, creating a buzz of excitement that continues to grow. This incredible start is just the beginning, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the future of Taco Bell in this vibrant town.

Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this opening such a success. Here’s to a bright future ahead for the St. Croix Falls Taco Bell!

On Nov. 18, we officially opened our new Taco Bell restaurant in Virginia, Minn., at 1475 South 12th Ave. This  is our first location in Virginia, 99th restaurant in Minnesota and 248th restaurant in the Upper Midwest.

“We are thrilled to be joining the Virginia community and look forward to welcoming everyone to our brand-new restaurant,” said our President Aaron Engler. “From new customers to future employees, we can’t wait to provide good food and good service to the fine folks of the Iron Range.”

“Our excellent team members are ready and excited to serve northeastern Minnesota’s taco lovers,” said Director of Operations Ken Lund. “Come be one of the first to visit us at our Virginia location today!”

A big thanks to Virginia’s restaurant leadership team, including:

• Steve Daggett, Region Coach 
• Jenn Coleman, Area Coach 
• Ashley Burger, Restaurant General Manager

Thanks to this group, and Ashley’s restaurant team, we set a Border Foods “First Day” sales record, and we did it just within the opening hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Way to go!

We’re currently hiring at the new Taco Bell location, as well as several others across the state. Positions available at the Virginia location range from cashiers and cooks to shift leads and management.

A complete list of job openings and an online application can be found here!

We’re excited to officially welcome our new North St. Paul Taco Bell to the Border Foods family! This brand-new location known as “McKnight” opened its doors on Wednesday, October 9th, marking an exciting addition to our Minnesota portfolio. For a glimpse of how far we’ve come, check out this Instagram reel showing the transformation from demolition to opening day.  McKnight is more than just a new restaurant; it’s a reflection of the hard work, passion, and commitment of our team members, and we couldn’t be prouder to introduce them. 

Trevor Lantz, our new Restaurant General Manager (RGM), brings over five years of experience with Border Foods, having previously managed the Roseville location. Trevor’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping the culture at McKnight, fostering a team environment centered on excellence and high standards. Outside of work, he’s passionate about engineering cars for racing and spending time with his two cats, Raven and Tiger.

Alongside Trevor, Assistant General Manager (AGM) Scott Lyon brings six years of Taco Bell experience to the role, offering invaluable knowledge to this new location. Two recent hires, AGM Alyssa Herr and Shift Lead Korren Schrade, round out the management team, each bringing fresh energy and dedication to Border Foods. With a total of 27 employees on staff, McKnight is set to become a community staple, offering great service, a welcoming atmosphere and, of course, delicious food.

In preparation for opening day, Trevor and his team hosted a “Family & Friends” day, allowing team members and their loved ones to experience the new restaurant and get a taste of the Taco Bell hospitality. It was an incredible day of team-building and celebration.

Special thanks to Region Coach Octavia Erickson, Area Coach Alyse Eckert, and the entire Region 3 support team for their efforts in training and onboarding new hires. Their teamwork and dedication truly reflect the strength of the Border Foods family. Join us in welcoming Trevor and his team to North St. Paul!