Taco Bell Pairs Up With Match.com to Introduce the Perfect Pairing of Cheese in the Monterey Chicken Quesadilla

Business Wire, Jan 30, 2003

Business Editors & Restaurant/Food Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2003

The "Monterey Match Up" Sweepstakes Will Award A "Mild" And "Spicy"

Couple

Proving that opposites do attract, Taco Bell successfully matched up mild Monterey and spicy Pepper Jack cheese in its latest menu creation, the Monterey Chicken Quesadilla. For a limited time, consumers can enjoy this taste experience and enter the "Monterey Match Up" Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for two to romantic Monterey, Calif.

The "Monterey Match Up" promotion builds off the advertising campaign that features a couple making a connection while discovering the flavorful cheeses in this new Quesadilla. Just in time for Valentine's Day, Taco Bell and Match.com will play cupid to customers across the nation in a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Monterey.

Participants can enter the sweepstakes, beginning Jan. 30 through Feb. 28, at tacobell.com or via banner advertising on Match.com, and answer questions to determine if they have a mild or spicy personality. One mild and one spicy entrant will be randomly selected and each will be awarded a grand prize trip.

"There's a lot of truth to the saying that opposites attract -- pairing mild and spicy personalities can make for balanced relationships. Add to this equation a universal connection like food, and you have a recipe for matchmaking success," said Trish McDermott, vice president of romance for Match.com. "We are really excited to see what relationships might unfold with the 'Monterey Match Up.'"

The Monterey Chicken Quesadilla pairs the rich and smooth taste of melted Monterey Jack with the spicy kick of Pepper Jack cheese. Add tender, marinated all-white meat chicken folded into a freshly grilled tortilla and you have the Monterey Chicken Quesadilla, ready to eat on the go. The product will be available during the six-week period for $1.99, pricing may vary at participating Taco Bell restaurants.

"Taco Bell has had great success with our quesadilla product line and we're confident that consumers will love the marriage of spicy Pepper Jack and rich Monterey Jack cheese in the new Monterey Chicken Quesadilla," said Jeff Fox, vice president of national marketing, Taco Bell Corp.

In keeping with the "Match Up" theme, Taco Bell will advertise on shows such as "Joe Millionaire," "The Bachelorette Finale," "Blind Date" and more. Two 30-second spots and a 15-second spot, produced by Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB), San Francisco, promoting Monterey Chicken Quesadilla will begin airing Feb. 3 and run through March 12.

For more details and Official Rules on the "Monterey Match Up," visit the Taco Bell Web site at www.tacobell.com, or Match.com at www.match.com. No purchase is necessary to enter the Sweepstakes. Must be 18 or older and a U.S. resident to enter. Sweepstakes ends on Feb. 28, 2003. Void where prohibited.

Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., (NYSE:YUM), is the nation's leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain serving tacos, burritos, signature Quesadillas, Border Bowls(TM), nachos and other specialty items.

Taco Bell serves more than 35 million consumers each week in nearly 6,500 restaurants in the United States. In 2001, Taco Bell generated nearly $5 billion in system-wide sales. Think Outside the Bun and visit www.tacobell.com.