Marketing

Taco Bell partners with fan girl Paris Hilton to plug return of Volcano Menu

The fiery items debuted in the early 2000s, when the star was at her hottest. Now she’s partnering up to offer hot tips on Taco Bell’s first-ever advice hotline.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton offers hot tips on Taco Bell's Hot Line to celebrate launch of the Volcano Menu. | Photo courtesy of Taco Bell

The Volcano Menu returns to Taco Bell Thursday, and Paris Hilton, the “it” girl from the early 2000s, is partnering with the chain to promote the fiery favorites from the same era.

The nostalgic menu includes the Volcano Taco with seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, a three-cheese blend and extra-hot Lava sauce in a spicy red taco shell, and the Double Beef Volcano Burrito, filled with seasoned rice, beef, three-cheese blend, reduced-fat sour cream, crunchy tortilla strips and Lava sauce—a combo of red jalapenos and cheese. Heat-seeking fans can add Lava sauce to any other menu item for $1 extra.

Volcano Menu

The Volcano Taco and Double Beef Volcano Burrito both features fiery Lava sauce. |Photo courtesy of Taco Bell

Hilton, who is a long-time Taco Bell fan and hot trendsetter, has been called upon to offer advice on the brand’s first-ever hot line. In seven pre-recorded messages, the celeb offers hot tips on “sliving,” a term Hilton is said to have invented that blends "slaying" with "living" (one's best life).

Her "sliving" tips touch on topics like hair styles and life coaching, for example. Fans can also get a first crack at her unreleased single, “Hot One,” out Friday. Or they can just listen to Hilton reading the description of the Volcano Menu items; it all hinges on what prompt they choose when dialing up 1-844-THTS-HOT.

“Taco Bell’s Volcano Menu isn’t just iconic, it’s the epitome of hot,” said Hilton in a statement. “I am loving being a part of this Y2K revival with my very own Hot Line and hope fans will take my advice to sliv más.”

Like Nacho Fries, Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos and the Crunchwrap Supreme, Taco Bell creates excitement and sales for cult favorites by bringing them back to the menu for a limited time. Demand for the return of the Volcano Menu has been building for a long time, through online petitions, social media pleas and home cooks’ copycat recipes for Lava Sauce.

“We’re always listening to our fans, and the extensive passion and needs of the Volcano fanbase could no longer go unmet,” said Taylor Montgomery, Taco Bell’s US Chief Marketing Officer, in a statement. “Always in-the-know of what’s hot, Paris will help bring back these beloved items of the 2000s that never go out of style.”

Taco Bell Rewards members can get early access to the Volcano Menu on Tuesday.

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