Taco Bill

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Not to be confused with Taco Bell § Australia.

Taco Bill
IndustryRestaurants
GenreMexican food
Founded1967
FounderBill Chilcote
HeadquartersMelbourne
Number of locations
28 (2021)
Key people
Tom Kartel (CEO)
Stan Teschke
Vicki Teschke
Members70,000 (2021)
Websitetacobill.com.au

Taco Bill is an Australian restaurant chain serving traditional Mexican cuisine. It is the longest founded Mexican franchise in Australia.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

History[]

Taco Bill Restaurant in South Melbourne

The restaurant was established in 1967 by Bill Chilcote (16 October 1925 - 11 December 2011) who was married to a Mexican woman from a family who was in the business themselves, owning several cantinas. He came to Australia from the border of Mexico and California and decided to introduce Mexican food to Australia. The first Taco Bill outlet was opened on the Gold Coast and provided take-away food. Other outlets were opened firstly in Bondi, Sydney and next in Armadale, Melbourne. Currently it has 27 stores in Victoria. Club Taco has over 70.000 active members.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

Management[]

Taco Bill Restaurant in Malvern East

Taco Bill is managed by Tom Kartel, an Iranian native, who arrived in Australia in 1987. He started work as a kitchen hand at Taco Bill's South Melbourne outlet and opened his own restaurant in Springvale in 1994 and secured another two outlets in Clifton Hill and Camberwell over the next four years. Tom bought a 50 percent share of Taco Bill from its owner Stan Teschke in 2002. He received a master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Swinburne University.[13][14][15]

Food and drink[]

Margarita at Taco Bill

Taco Bill offers a wide range of traditional Mexican food including tacos, nachos, tortillas, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas and burritos. Taco Bill was the first to introduce nachos, tacos, and enchiladas to Australia. It was also the first to introduce the frozen margarita to Australia. The materials are sourced locally from local suppliers (including Aztec Mexican Products and Liquor, Bidfood, G&T Chickens, Merchant Australia, Marino Bros, and Ixom) and many of the spices are imported directly from Mexico. Taco Bill offers Gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan food and provides dietary or allergen options. It bottles its own trademarked hot sauce, and has previously sold its own tequila and beer. A wide range of beverages is offered including the Pancho Villa Margarita which is sold with a free sombrero.[7]

Awards[]

  • Savour Australia Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence (2016, 2020)[16][17]
  • Lifestyle FOOD Awards (2007, 2009, 2010)[18]

Charity[]

The Citizen of the Month is hold by Taco Bill every month.[19][20] It also sponsors several local institutions including schools, colleges and clubs. Among them are:[7]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Taco Bill gives its website and brand a Mexican makeover | Australian Food News". Australian Food News.
  2. ^ "Taco Bill Celebrates Selling 50 Million Tacos by Giving Them Away Free!". Business Franchise Australia.
  3. ^ "Taco Bill Mexican Restaurant - What's On". whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au.
  4. ^ "Taco Bill Mexican Restaurants Franchise Overview". Franchising.com.
  5. ^ Cody, Gemima. "Taco Bill, the authentically Australian Tex-Mex experience". Good Food.
  6. ^ "Review: Taco Bill, Collins St, Melbourne – Gourmanda". gourmanda.me.
  7. ^ a b c "What's the Real Story Behind Taco Bill?".
  8. ^ "Taco Bill". Australian food history timeline. 20 September 1960.
  9. ^ "Mexican standoff; Taco Bill takes Taco Bell to court". Inside Franchise Business. 5 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Taco Bell vs Taco Bill in Mexican fast-food standoff". 9NEWS. Nov 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "A Tale of Two Tacos: Taco Bill vs Taco Bell". Michael Buck IP. 28 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Taco Bell v Taco Bill in Mexican standoff". Australian Financial Review. 11 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Tom Kartel climbs Taco Bill ladder - Dynamic Business". Dynamic Business.
  14. ^ "Taco Bell wins Victorian expansion rights as independent Taco Bills settles intellectual property case". SmartCompany. 13 February 2020.
  15. ^ Atkinson, Jordy (18 April 2017). "Taco the trip of a lifetime". Heraldsun.
  16. ^ "Savour Australia Excellence Award 2016". Indian Tandoori Restaurant Albury Wodonga. 15 September 2016.
  17. ^ Bruton, Jodie (13 December 2020). "State awards raise spirits for Albury restaurants after a year like no other". The Border Mail.
  18. ^ "Taco Bill takes top spot in Lifestyle FOOD Awards". Australian Food News.
  19. ^ "MARCH 2015 'TACO BILL' CITIZEN OF THE MONTH". Middle Park Primary School.
  20. ^ "Citizen of the Month -October". Middle Park Primary School.

External links[]

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