Taco 'Bout Success: The Taco Bell Takeover

If you're like most college students, chances are you've indulged in at least one late-night fast-food run during your college career. Each year, Americans spend more than $110 billion on fast food alone, and the Taco Bell empire has long been a fan favorite.

The first Taco Bell opened in Downey, Calif., on March 21, 1962, taking its name from 23-year-old founder Glen Bell. March of this year marked Taco Bell's 50th anniversary of serving up tasty burritos, tacos, nachos, and more to hungry late-night diners. In fact, the U.S. is so hungry for Taco Bell, that if you were to take every Taco Bell item served over the course of one year and line them all up end to end, that line would circle the globe more than 22 times. Even if you aren't a regular customer, nearly 168 million people (half of the U.S. population) see a Taco Bell commercial at least once a week. From the infamous slogan "Yo quiero Taco Bell" to the ingenious institution of "Fourthmeal," Taco Bell has found its way into the culture (and the hearts) of people throughout the U.S. To some, Taco Bell is merely a 1 a.m. destination for hungry students, but the truth is that it's so much more. Over the years, Taco Bell has innovated and updated their menu constantly, from the irresistible and inventive Crunchwrap Supreme to the sensible, guilt-free Drive-Thru Diet menu. Most recently, Taco Bell rolled out their newest addition to their much-loved lineup: The Doritos Locos Taco, a traditional taco encased in a nacho cheese Doritos-shell. Could there possibly be a better duo? The Doritos Locos Tacos warranted a great deal of fanfare, and even received its own Twitter hashtag: #doritoslocostacos, much to the delight of Taco Bell's 175,000 Twitter followers.

Whether you're a loyal T-Bell aficionado or you haven't hit the drive-thru in years, check out the following infographic on the much-loved empire — and don't be surprised if you suddenly find yourself craving a taco!
 

Created by: HackCollege.com