Taco Bell has looked to capitalise on the unexpected popularity of Nacho Fries by releasing a sauce made with the world’s hottest pepper, the Carolina Reaper. The Carolina Reaper is 200 times hotter than a jalapeno.
The move has created a buzz in the US fast food industry, as the latest in a line of super-spicy food launches. Analyst Mark Kalinowski of Kalinowski Equity Research asked whether or not Taco Bell would require customers to sign a legal waiver before they eat ‘Reaper Ranch’ Fries, similar to the Cinco Chiles Burrito at Soltoro in Connecticut.
Nacho Fries were launched earlier this year, and fast became Taco Bell’s best-selling new menu item. The seasoned fries, which come with a cheese dipping sauce, were purchased 53 million times in the first five weeks that they were available – that’s one serving with every three orders. The plan was to pull the fries from the menu before September, but that deadline has now been extended by another month.
