Taco John’s Drive-thru Speaker Comes Alive in New Ads

Taco John’s is a Bigger, Bolder, Better place to eat. And its new Speaker box character is joyfully shouting that good news from the mountaintop… of the drive thru lane.

The campaign, created by independent agency Barkley, creates a vibrant, colourful world where an iconic speaker box engages in quick-witted and playful conversations with customers who are just as colourful and interesting (as the brand itself).

In 'Two-In-One,' a woman rolls up in her part car part pick up truck and waxes on about how she loves things that are two awesome things combined, like a quesadilla taco. “Can I eat it with my spork? In my jorts? Can I eat it with my puggle?” she says. “Only if he likes grilled chicken and chipotle sauce?” the box says. “Those are his middle names,” the woman says.

In their first live action campaign in years, the launch spot is just the beginning of the colourful interactions between the Speaker box and Taco John's customers. 

“Our new campaign is all about showing how people who come to Taco John's craving something exciting are always met with a massive 'Yes, And'," says Troy Burrows, Barkley Executive Creative Director. "We want you to feel that when you come to Taco John's, you've arrived at your Bigger, Bolder, Better destination. And this outlook and the spirit it embodies goes way beyond spots--it's a new platform for everything Taco John's does."

“At Taco John’s, our growth strategy is to improve both functional and emotional connection with our consumers as we continue our rapid growth across the US.  Barkley has clearly shown how to dramatically improve this emotional connection with a campaign that is funny, memorable, and clearly identifies our brand’s unique personality,” said Barry Westrum, Taco John’s CMO. 

As another example of the Bigger Bolder Better thinking breaking with this work, Taco John’s is also releasing a new tool called the Taco Tuesday Meating Maker. Our calendars got 53% busier this year, so the last thing anyone needs is another meeting reminder — unless, it’s a meeting about tacos. The Meating Maker QR code automatically adds a weekly reminder for specially priced Tuesday tacos to your calendar.

The campaign launched on TV, radio, digital and social on March 14th, and the Meating Maker QR code is live in stores.