By Christiana Sciaudone
Investing.com -- What if there's a Twitter post with an animated potato version of the CEO of Taco Bell announcing the return of the starchy tuber to the menu, while also teasing a new partnership with Beyond Meat?
Well, there is, indeed, an animated potato of Mark King, head of Taco Bell, apparently underground, apologizing for removing the spuds from the menu and proclaiming their triumphant return.
Taco Bell's Cheesy Fiesta (NASDAQ:FRGI) Potatoes and the Spicy Potato Soft Taco will be back starting March 11. Both food items were removed from the menu momentarily due to Covid-19-related complications last year.
Taco Bell is also teaming up with Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND) to create a new plant-based protein that will be tested in the next year. It's all part of a bet on vegetarians.
Shares of Beyond Meat rose 7%, while Taco Bell parent Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE:YUM) was up 2%.
"The return of our beloved potatoes is just the first step in showing our fans the strong continued commitment to vegetarian we are making this year," said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell's Global Chief Food Innovation Officer. "We have long been a leader in the vegetarian space, but this year, we have more meatless options in store that vegetarians, veggie-curious and even meat-eaters will love."