
KFC Is Officially Testing Vegan Fried Chicken From Beyond Meat
It’s finally happening. This week, Kentucky Fried Chicken will begin testing vegan fried chicken that combines Beyond Meat with their signature secret spices. The plant-based chicken will be served at only one restaurant in Atlanta, but KFC will move forward on either broader testing or a nationwide rollout if sales and customer feedback are positive. Kevin Hochman, KFC U.S. president and chief concept officer, stated:
KFC Beyond Fried Chicken is so delicious, our customers will find it difficult to tell that it’s plant-based. I think we’ve all heard “it tastes like chicken”—well our customers are going to be amazed and say, “it tastes like Kentucky Fried Chicken!”
This move will make KFC the very first American fast-food chain to add a Beyond Meat chicken item to its menu. Beyond Meat CEO and founder Ethan Brown said in a statement:
KFC is an iconic part of American culture and a brand that I, like so many consumers, grew up with. To be able to bring Beyond Fried Chicken, in all of its KFC-inspired deliciousness, to market speaks to our collective ability to meet the consumer where they are and accompany them on their journey.
This is not the company’s first step into the plant-based market. In June, KFC launched their vegan Imposter Burger in 20 locations throughout the United Kingdom. Although the company planned to run a trial of the burger from June 17 to July 15, the Imposter Burger was completely sold out in only four days.
Over those few days, the Imposter Burger racked up sales around 500 percent higher than those of a typical new KFC sandwich. The new plant-based option took off with such speed that KFC senior innovation leader Victoria Robertson stated, “We knew there were plenty of people who would want to get a taste of the Imposter, but we didn’t anticipate this phenomenal response.”
KFC’s plant-based move was likely inspired by a recent wave of chain restaurants adopting vegan menu items. Just a few weeks ago, Subway announced that it would offer plant-based meatballs from Beyond Meat in its newly created Beyond Meatball Marinara, available at select locations this September. Burger King just launched the Impossible Whopper nationwide, so customers all around the country can enjoy a vegan version of BK’s most famous menu item. Plus, Dunkin’ became the first U.S. chain to offer plant-based sausage from Beyond Meat!
Chain restaurants adding plant-based options to their menus is a huge step in the right direction and could spare millions of animals from ever seeing the inside of a factory farm.
As we all know, a little praise and encouragement can go a long way, so please take a moment to thank KFC by commenting on their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram accounts—and encourage them to bring this exciting plant-based offering to your town!
With more and more huge companies adopting plant-based meals, it’s never been a better time for you to do the same. For delicious meal ideas and recipes, order a FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide today.