Taco Bell and Cheez-It collaborate to bring ‘Big Cheez It’

Taco Bell can't get enough Cheez — and neither can Twitter.

Brands YUM, Tex-Mex chain teamed up with Kellogg s K, Cheez-It for a new menu item that they are testing in California: the Big Cheez-It Tostada. The $2.49 dish consists of seasoned beef, reduced-fat sour cream, fresh diced tomatoes, crisp lettuce and shredded cheddar cheese on top of an oversized Cheez-It cracker.

There is also a $4.29 Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme, which features seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, reduced-fat sour cream and diced tomatoes layered on a giant Cheez-It, and then the whole thing is wrapped inside a tortilla and grilled.

Taco Bell's chief food innovation officer Liz Matthews said in a statement that the Taco Bell collaboration with Cheez-It gives our fans the chance to experience the real cheese and crunch they love from both of our brands in a whole new way. They are only being tested at one Taco Bell location in Irvine, Calif. at the moment, so not everyone can get their hands on them. They will be available at the restaurant on 2222 Barranca Pkwy. Supplies last for two weeks or while supplies last.

The news caused Taco Bell and Cheez-It to trend on real-time Google searches and Twitter TWTR. The news resulted in a lot of appetites for Cheez-It or Taco Bell to sell the oversized crackers as stand-alone products.

Fast food chains are rolling out a lot of marketing stunts for summer snacking.

On Wednesday, Arby s and Old Spice announced a collaboration to fend off the summer meat sweats. The $60 so-called Meat Sweat Defense Kit includes two Old Spice Sweat Defense Dry Sprays in popular scents, a pair of Arby's limited-edition roast beef-patterned MeatSweats sweatshirt and sweatpants, a gym towel and a sweatband to wipe away the sweats, and an Arby's gift card, because this whole thing starts with eating meats. KFC is literally taking finger lickin good with its Finger Sporks. The red plastic spoon-fork hybrid fits on your finger to bring out the fun in family dinner, according to a company press release. There is even a 90 s-inspired infomercial to show you how to handle it. You can get two free Finger Sporks by ordering a KFC Sides Lovers Meal on the KFC mobile app, KFC.com or at participating KFC locations through July 12, while supplies last.

Select Krispy Kreme DNUT, shops are dishing glazed doughnut-flavored soft serve ice cream and milkshakes. The doughnut chain has found a lot of success with special menu items and collaborations. In May, after Krispy Kreme's first-quarter profit and revenue beat expectations, our limited time offerings such as our Twix and Rolo Doughnuts resonated strongly with consumers, highlighting the opportunities for premiumization and the gifting and sharing power of the brand, the company s chief executive Mike Tattersfield said in May.

McDonald's MCD whipped up a Chocolatey Pretzel McFlurry at participating restaurants nationwide for an undisclosed limited time. It mixes vanilla soft serve with chocolate-covered pretzel bits and caramel swirl. Or Wendy's WEN added a strawberry-flavored Frosty to its treats menu this summer, claiming it has been one of the most requested items from customers.

The restaurant chains are grappling with record inflation like everyone else, which is less palatable. McDonald's international president said that the Golden Arches want to raise prices to manage inflation and that the company plans to take small steps up rather than a big leap to not leave too bad a taste in customers mouths. Wendy reported a first quarter profit and revenue that missed expectations in May.