Biz: Taco Bell founder Glen Bell dies, leaves trail of chalupas behind
- These were true entrepreneurs. These weren’t people who did hostile takeovers. They took a risk, had a dream and went out and financed it. And nobody did it better then Glen Bell.
- Stater Bros. Markets chairman Jack Brown • Regarding friend and Taco Bell founder Glen Bell, who died today at 86. Before it became a brand synonymous with the generalization of Mexican food, Taco Bell innovated the fast food process by proving it could be done with products slightly less traditional than burgers, fries and shakes. Beyond turning Taco Bell into an incredibly successful business that PepsiCo eventually bought (and was later spun off as the centerpiece of Yum! Brands), Bell planted the seed that made it possible for an incredibly varied array of fast food – from Potbelly to Panera to Chipotle – to diversify the market. A questionable legacy to some, but it’s totally his. source