Bankruptcy administrator investigating restart for Taco Bell in Netherlands

Fast food chain Taco Bell may still get a new lease on life in the Netherlands. Curator Maarten Jansen is currently in talks with several potential buyers interested in taking over the bankrupt franchise operator of burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. “I hope to conclude these discussions by the end of next week,” Jansen told ANP on Friday.

The ten Dutch Taco Bell locations, including in cities like Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, were operated by franchisee T Bello Netherlands. Two years ago, the company reported being profitable and announced plans to expand within the country. At that time, Taco Bell had eight outlets in the Netherlands, with an aim to grow to at least 12 by now.

Taco Bell is a major brand in the United States, but the reasons behind the financial troubles of the Dutch franchise are still unclear. Jansen said, “It’s too early to comment on what exactly went wrong. As usual in bankruptcy cases, I will investigate this thoroughly.”

For now, the curator’s main focus is on finding a buyer to continue operations. Jansen is “positive” about the chances of a successful restart. Meanwhile, all Dutch Taco Bell outlets remain open.

The primary victims of the bankruptcy appear to be investors. The company raised two million euros through a bond loan on the NPEX stock exchange, a Dutch market for growth companies, two years ago to fund its expansion plans.