Taco John’s is teaming up with PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division for its latest menu item. The Mexican fast food chain is launching the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Burrito this week as a limited time offer.
"Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are extremely popular, and they offer a great, distinctive flavor. We decided the snack would be the perfect accent to our new spicy burrito,” says Bob Karisny, vice president for menu strategy and innovation at Taco John’s. “We couldn’t be happier with the combination. We think the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Burrito will perform very well.”
The burrito combines spicy chorizo sausage, jalapeno slices, nacho cheese, and chile de arbol salsa with the crunch of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos snacks inside a tortilla. The spicy burrito arrives at a time when consumers are voicing an appetite for bolder flavors. In its recent Flavor Consumer Trend Report, Technomic found a majority (54 percent) of Americans say spicy foods are appealing. Guests ages 18–34 show the greatest preference for hotter menu items.
“Everything is lining up for the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Burrito. We have the right flavors, at the right time, with the right partners,” says Jeff Linville, CEO at Taco John’s. “I think the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Burrito will help us attract the attention of guests who currently aren’t familiar with Taco John’s. Raising awareness is very important for us as we work to grow the Taco John’s brand and add new restaurants across the country.”
Taco John’s is supporting this new launch with a regional TV commercial campaign featuring Chester Cheetah, the official spokes-cheetah for the Cheetos brand, as a co-conspirator for this crunchy and spicy new menu item. Taco John’s will also be launching a new mobile app to promote the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Burrito. Available for iPhone and Android, the Mission: PAWSible app offers access to free food, games, and more.