Here's a Look at Taco Bell's New Breakfast Foods

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From Taco Bell, the people who brought you the concept of the "Fourth Meal," now comes First Meal. Or as you're probably more familiar with it, breakfast. The Taco Bells of ten lucky states — which the press release below mysteriously does not name although they include California, Arizona and Colorado — will serve breakfast from 8 or 9AM until 11AM daily.

And hold on to your hats, they're partnering "with SOME OF America's favorite breakfast brands." Yes, just some — don't be greedy. Anyway, the brands include Johnsonville®, Cinnabon®, Tropicana and Seattle's Best Coffee. Said partnerships have resulted in such breakfast curiousities as the Johnsonville Sausage and Egg Wrap (slide six, above) and whatever Cinnabon Delights are. (They put the frosting on the inside.) Breakfast burritos, ahoy.

Taco Bell® launches ‘FirstMeal™’ in 10 western states; teams with SOME OF America’s favorite breakfast brands Co-Branding Partners Include Johnsonville®, Cinnabon®, Tropicana and Seattle’s Best Coffee

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2012 – Taco Bell® today introduced FirstMeal™, a new breakfast menu that combines great Taco Bell value with classic breakfast tastes. Starting today, eleven unique menu items will be offered in 10 Western states, including California, Arizona and Colorado. Featuring some of America’s favorite breakfast brands such as Johnsonville®, Cinnabon®, Tropicana and Seattle’s Best Coffee, individual items will range from 99 cents (sausage or bacon and egg burrito) to $2.79 (Grande Skillet Burrito), with participating restaurants opening their doors and drive-thrus one hour earlier. For most locations, that means 8 or 9 a.m., with breakfast ending at 11 a.m. local time.

“We’re excited to bring value and taste to nearly 750 stores and to fans who are familiar with Mexican-inspired breakfast, while seeking the value and taste that only our FirstMeal menu can give them,” said Brian Niccol, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, Taco Bell Corp. “We’ve partnered with leading breakfast brands that consumers know, love and trust, including Johnsonville Sausage, which has teamed with us to create our signature product, a Sausage and Egg Wrap: a soft flour tortilla filled with savory sausage, fluffy eggs surrounded by melted cheese – all wrapped up and grilled. For those looking for more than a muffin, we feel they’ve met their morning match.”

Niccol expanded on the number of stores and times, noting that more Taco Bell locations in the eastern part of the U.S will start carrying FirstMeal in 2013 – and, starting at the end of 2012, the company will start sampling FirstMeal items alongside Fourthmeal offerings during late-night hours. “This is a very important launch for our brand. While we’re beginning in the west, where people grew up with breakfast burritos, we plan to reach a national audience in the future, becoming a part of their morning routine, and truly opening people’s minds and taste buds as they begin to open their eyes and take on the day.”

The full FirstMeal™ menu, in order of price: Sausage or Bacon and Egg Burrito, Hash Browns, Seattle’s Best Coffee® ($1.49 cents); Cinnabon Delights™ ($1.49), Tropicana Orange Juice ($1.49), Johnsonville® Sausage and Egg Wrap ($1.79), Seattle’s Best Coffee® Premium Vanilla or Mocha Iced Coffee ($1.99), Steak and Egg Burrito ($1.99), Grande Skillet Burrito ($2.79). Three combos will be offered, all for $3.99, which includes a drink and hash brown. Prices and items may vary at participating locations.

Taco Bell has tested FirstMeal in more than 150 stores in four markets: Bakersfield, Calif., Oklahoma City, Tucson, Ariz. and Dayton, Ohio. All participating restaurants will be equipped with full point-of-purchase (POP) advertising, including flutter flags, drive-thru picket signs, window clings and crew buttons. Radio remotes and free giveaways will be included in Taco Bell’s initial marketing mix for FirstMeal.

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