When Taco Bell first launched the Doritos Locos Taco in 2012, the idea seemed both brilliant and risky.
Doritos was a logical extension for the Mexican chain's signature tacos, but this was a whole new kind of fast-food mashup.
That partnership between the PepsiCo (PEP) - Get Free Report brand and the Yum Brands (YUM) - Get Free Report chain was a wild success that led to dozens of spinoffs.
It also created a new formula where fast-food chains looked to create new flavors by mixing ideas together.
That, of course, led to a lot of terrible ideas where companies raced to tie their products to snack chip brands.
It wasn't that something like Restaurant Brands International's (QSR) - Get Free Report Burger King's Mac 'N Cheetos was a bad idea, but it lacked the obvious appeal of Taco Bell's hit product.
The reason Doritos Locos Tacos worked was because the mashup was both innovative and obvious.
The two flavors went together incredibly well and Taco Bell's success was simply finding the perfect combination.
Other companies may have struggled to hit the highs of the Doritos Locos Tacos, but the success of that product
(and its many spinoffs) allowed fast-food chains more leeway in trying new flavord for limited-time offers (LTOs).
Instead of just adding barbecue sauce or bacon, innovative chains including Burger King have tried whole new formats.
That's where successes like Chicken Fries came from. Burger King was comfortable not offering another take on a chicken nugget or trying the bold step of selling chicken tenders
(which rival McDonald's (MCD) - Get Free Report failed at). Chicken Fries weren't two flavors coming together. Instead, the product combined the taste of chicken nuggets with the convenience of fries.
It may seem dumb -- a lot of really good ideas do -- but it gave customers something they wanted, but maybe had never thought to ask for.
Now, Burger King has another new take on chicken that it's bringing to Canada which could be another Doritos Locos Taco fast-food innovation inflection point.