“We knew in a slowing economy that our marketing approach had to be focused on value for the customer,” said Carlos Budet, President and CEO of The Taco Maker. “Our goal is to help the customer stretch their dollar while offering fresh, authentic Mexican quick-service food. That’s why we’re showcasing our new one-pound flagship burrito ‘The Maker’ through an innovative marketing approach. This allows customers to satisfy their hunger without the premium costs.”

The Taco Maker is implementing this strategy developed by BxP Marketing in Florida that allows the company to track customer trends and preferences while also interacting with customers.

“The process is pretty elaborate and detailed,” said Gary Bentz, Chief Creative Officer of BxP Marketing. “First, consumers opt-in by sending a text to our SMS platform and in return they receive an offer for a free burrito via their mobile phones. Once a customer redeems the text message offer, the software provides TTM with a report that details what radio station that customer was listening to, the daypart, and which program they were listening to that prompted the customer to respond to the offer. The trained staff at each TTM location has been key in assisting customers with the promotion and up-selling.”

TTM is targeting English and Spanish-language radio stations in central Florida for the first stage of this innovative marketing campaign. They have also introduced a Mexican-American character called Juan Maker to help with product identity that will also become the basis for the “Juan Peso Value Menu” in the campaign’s second phase. In unscripted radio spots, Juan Maker is interviewed with a major DJ personality in the Orlando area and asked to text a particular number to get the free food offers.

“We really poured all of our creative juices into this exciting product launch and developed a strategic program to introduce The Maker, generate traffic to the stores and create demand for this new flagship product,” said Bentz. “Our goal was to combine both traditional and cutting-edge media strategies to reach out to a specific demographic and motivate them to visit the stores. The results, I’m proud to say, are nothing short of spectacular.”

When asked about the importance of targeting a younger segment to expand TTM’s customer base, Budet responded, “We realize how important it is to tap into a younger tech-savvy segment of the market for growing our brand in the coming years. We’ve seen in just a few months, in fact, the impact this strategy can have on our total revenue gains. In the first quarter alone, over 2,200 customers have responded positively via their mobile phones for our free burrito promotion with an overwhelming 50% redeem ratio.”

Long known for its fresh, high-quality and flavorful Mexican food, The Taco Maker offers various QSR outlet types to meet almost every need, from traditional free-standing restaurants and mall food courts to its fast-growing programs for non-traditional locations which complement the dual branding concept with franchises such as Jake’s Over the Top and Mayan Juice. For franchise information for The Taco Maker contact http://www.tacomaker.com.

BxP Marketing is a non-traditional creative marketing agency located in South Florida. Its business model is designed to influence consumers through life and styles strategies using entertainment, music, sport, fashion and new media as a means to effectively reach a wide range of demographics. BxP creative marketing concepts bring together creative, targeted marketing strategies — both traditional and non-traditional — and measurable executions. For more information on BxP Marketing visit http://www.bxpmarketing.com.

TTM describes ‘The Maker’ as a mouth-watering, one pound Burrito stuffed with up to three kinds of meat, beans, enchilada sauce and Monterey Jack Cheese in a warm home-style tortilla. The monster burrito is value-priced at $5 during its special rollout promotion.

“We anticipate ‘The Maker’ burrito to become our flagship product,” said Carlos Budet, President and CEO of The Taco Maker. “Our ongoing goal is to deliver what our customers crave with the addition of fresh, innovative products like ‘The Maker,’ while targeting a value-conscious consumer base.”

Guests can create a combo meal with ‘The Maker’ for an additional $2 and receive a cold drink and chips with salsa, side order of rice or French fries.

“Our ‘Maker’ burrito is actually an entire meal in itself,” said Budet. “We use nearly a half pound of meat and the freshest, quality ingredients available, including beans, enchilada sauce and Monterey Jack cheese, to create the best tasting, most satisfying burrito available in any quick service Mexican restaurant. Anyone who orders ‘The Maker’ will not go away hungry…or disappointed.”

The Taco Maker is one of three concepts under the The Taco Maker, Inc. umbrella, an international franchise system with over 185 units open in the United States, Latin America, and the Far East. The Taco Maker restaurant is currently the largest Mexican quick service restaurant in Puerto Rico and serves popular quick service Mexican dishes such as tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, salads and desserts.

With 25 new stores slated to open this year and hundreds more in development, The Taco Maker is experiencing a robust pipeline of commitments from franchise developers in multiple regions of the United States and Puerto Rico as well as countries including India, Panamá, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, The Dominican Republic, Russia, Spain and other European and Latin American countries.

“We will continue to deliver the freshest, most delicious Mexican quick service food we can without compromising on quality or value. Our desire is to grow our reputation with our customers with products like our new ‘Maker’ burrito and to become their choice dining destination for the quality and delicious food we’re known for worldwide,” said Budet.

Long known for its fresh, high quality and flavorful Mexican fast food, The Taco Maker offers various outlet types to meet almost every need, from traditional free-standing restaurants and mall food courts to its fast growing programs for non-traditional locations which complement the dual branding concept with franchises such as Jake’s Over the Top and Mayan Juice. For franchise information for The Taco Maker call 787-273-3160.