Category: Operations
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Celebrating Jeff Torres’ 10th Taco-versary with DDO
Jeff Torres, one of our Taco Bell Regional Directors (Western Arizona and California), is fast approaching an impressive service milestone: 10 years with Desert de Oro Foods (DDO). In honor of a decade of devoted leadership with us, we sat down to chat about the brand, his career and more. Jeff, an Arizona native, joined…
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Learning to Lead with Purpose: Yvette Ramirez Experiences theLEAP
For Yvette Ramirez, leadership is all about people. As an Area Coach (AC) with over 11 years at Taco Bell, Yvette has had plenty of opportunities to grow as a leader with us here at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO). Now, she’s taking that growth to the next level through Taco Bell’s theLEAP program, a…
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DDO’s New England Team Celebrates a Summer of Success
For the New England team at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), summer is a time to celebrate. Rather than hosting a traditional holiday party during a season when unpredictable weather can make plans challenging, the team gathers during the summer to recognize achievements and celebrate the people who make them possible. This year, team members…
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Area 7 Celebrates the Guests Who Make it All Possible
At Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), our guests are at the heart of everything we do. For Area 7 in Northwest Arizona, that mission inspired a special Guest Appreciation Day designed to give back to the customers who show up to our Taco Bells every day. Led by Area Coach (AC) Nina Atkins, the event…
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Jesse Packer Rises to New Level of Leadership
After four years (and counting) with Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), training guru Jesse Packer takes on an upgraded role as Senior Region Training Coach (RTC). Moving up from RTC of Region 3, we share in Jesse’s excitement with this promotion announcement! In his previous position, Jesse already made a meaningful impact on our restaurants,…
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2026 Operations: Halfway There, Full Speed Ahead!
We’re mid-summer – what a great time to find out what’s cookin’ around Desert de Oro Foods (DDO). We chased down Fred Bendel, Vice President of Operations, for the latest intel. Mid-year Momentum With 347 restaurants and four brands, Fred confirms that DDO enjoyed a strong first half of the year and is on track…
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Southwest Glow Up: Our Latest Taco Bell Remodels
Springtime kicks our annual construction and remodel season into full gear here at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO). This year’s schedule began with a few fun Taco Bell “glow ups” in our Southwestern market with a Helotes, TX rebuild and a Laveen, AZ lobby remodel. “We are excited to keep serving our existing and new…
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Fresh Look, Strong Results: Celebrating Two Taco Bell Remodels in San Antonio
At Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), investing in restaurants means investing in both team members and guests. Two recently remodeled Taco Bell locations in San Antonio, TX are already making a strong impression with upgraded technology, refreshed spaces and energized teams ready to serve their communities! Our remodeled locations include the Taco Bell at 12050…
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Bringing Big Ideas Back to DDO: Inside the 2026 Bar & Restaurant Expo
Professional development is more than learning new skills. It’s about finding inspiration, exploring what’s next in the industry and bringing fresh ideas back to the team. That’s exactly what happened when Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) leaders attended the 2026 Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas, NV. As part of our commitment to growth…
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Best of the Bell: DDO Celebrates Top Performing Restaurants & Leaders
Gold never looked so good! We’re proud to showcase our 2025 Golden Bell winners, which includes those Taco Bells that have also simultaneously reached Signature Restaurant status. For 2025, 136 Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) Taco Bells were named Signature Restaurants! Golden Bell celebrates the nation’s top restaurants in the Taco Bell system, along with…