Category: Taco Bell
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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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25 Years of Heart: Sandra Soza’s Journey
For Sandra Soza, Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) has never been just a job. It’s been the place where she learned English, built a career, raised her family and discovered just how far hard work can take her. Now, after 25 years with DDO, Sandra’s story stands as a powerful example of resilience and dedication.…
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DDO Fuels the Future at Rosie’s House Music Academy
When our nonprofit partner Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children needed catering for a recent Teen Night, we were delighted to step up! Area Coach Rick Ontiveros, who oversees Desert de Oro Foods’ (DDO) Taco Bell Cantinas in Phoenix and Tempe, AZ, made it happen. “I think it’s important to work with the community…
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Kamila Merchand: Live Más Launches a Career in Nursing
When Kamila Merchand applied for Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Más Scholarship just before the deadline, she’d convinced herself that the funds were probably already spoken for. For her, the idea of winning felt so out of reach. But her manager at the time encouraged her to apply and then, something incredible happened. Kamila, a first…
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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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Celebrating our Live Más Scholarship Winners!
At Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), we believe in investing in our people — both in their careers and in their dreams for the future. That’s why we’re proud to celebrate our team members who have been named Live Más Scholarship recipients. “[Live Más] means choosing responsibility now so I can create opportunity later.” –…
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From Burritos to Boulders: Area 12’s Fearless Leader
Meet Melanie Brun, an Area Coach (AC) here at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO)! Melanie oversees Area 12 in Region 3, and over the course of her career, she’s held a variety of positions. This wide-ranging QSR experience means that Melanie understands firsthand the challenges that her direct reports face every day — making her…
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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…
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Meet MaElena, Modeling Perseverance, Leadership & Strength
“How far I’ve come, the little girl from Mexico,” MaElena Garcia says while acknowledging she needs celebrate herself more. Now a reputable leader at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) as a Taco Bell Area Coach (AC), we celebrate the full life she’s created here! MaElena moved to the United States in 1996 at the age…
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Selene Quintana Leads with Purpose
Selene Quintana never planned on building a career in restaurants. At 16, she walked into a Taco Bell looking for a job that would support her dream of becoming a nurse. She wanted to help people. That first visit didn’t go as planned – the manager was busy and turned her away. Flustered but determined,…