Marketing
The first mascot of Del Taco was a character of the same name used from 1999 through 2000. While popular, Del Taco (the company) was hit by a lawsuit from Zorro Productions, Inc. and Tristar Pictures, Inc., who claimed that the "Del Taco" character – masked and costumed in black – infringed on their rights to the trademark Zorro figure. Del Taco settled the suit in January 2000, agreeing to make changes to the Del Taco character, but soon discontinued the ad campaign altogether.
In its place, from 2000 through early 2006, Del Taco used Gregg Binkley to play Dan in their commercials. Dan, a clumsy marketing spokesman for Del Taco, was famous for his antics during their commercials. Among other things, Dan destroyed cars, broke hockey-rink glass, and mistakenly held a sales event at a nude beach, all while promoting a specific item for Del Taco.
From August 2007 through July 2008, Del Taco featured "The Beast" in their commercials. "The Beast", a personification of hunger, typically stood next to a customer and persuaded him to order a particular item (or particular items) so that they could "Feed the Beast" (which was Del Taco's slogan at the time). "The Beast" made his debut in August 2007 promoting Del Taco's improved Chicken Soft Taco. In addition, he endorsed the Crispy Fish Taco in February 2008, the improved Chicken Quesadilla (with 50% more chicken) in April 2008, and Del's Deal (two half-pound bean and cheese burritos, a regular crunchy taco, and a small drink for $2.99) in June 2008.
Currently, Del Taco uses a variety of commercials to promote their new slogan, "Go Bold or Go Home." The first commercial featured a team of miniature "Mole Men" to promote the Spicy Chicken Mole Soft Taco, which aired in August 2008. Ads included Del Taco's promotion of their improved regular taco in September 2008, the Classic Combo Deal in November 2008, three separate meal deals for under three dollars (including the aforementioned deal) in January 2009, the crispy shrimp taco in February 2009, the chicken soft taco in April 2009, and the chicken fajita burrito in June 2009.
Read more about this topic: Del Taco