POULSBO – In celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2012, Taco Time Northwest, a Northwest-based family-owned quick service restaurant, is exclusively featuring Taco Time employees in its new advertising campaign.

Poulsbo is represented in the ad by Bryan Vettleson.

Throughout 2012, Taco Time NW’s commercials will feature 66 employees from 21 western Washington Taco Time NW restaurants, corporate office employees and a district manager.

“Our employees are an undeniable part of our continued success,” said Gretchen Everett, marketing and advertising director for Taco Time NW. “It’s an honor to showcase them in our current commercials and to share their passion for the great food and guests we have served for 50 years.”

In 2012 and moving forward, Taco Time NW (www.TacoTimeNW.com) will continue to increase the number of products sourced from Northwest suppliers and will purchase local ingredients whenever possible, according to a press release. Tortillas are baked fresh daily at La Mexicana, a local company that has provided Taco Time’s tortillas for almost 40 years. Northwest beef and 60-day aged Darigold Cheddar cheese are two more of the local ingredients used by Taco Time NW.

The company is also establishing new green initiatives, including the introduction of compostable packaging in more than half of its restaurants where hauling compost to a commercial facility is possible. When possible, the compostables will be transported to local composting company Cedar Grove.

The new ad campaign and stop-motion commercials were produced and directed by David Leonard of Leonard Creative.