News

KFC, Beyond Meat test 1st national plant-based QSR chicken Tuesday in Atlanta

Photo: Modified from provided.

August 26, 2019

Plant-based QSR chicken is reality, starting tomorrow when Kentucky Fried Chicken becomes the first national U.S. quick-serve to test a plant-based chicken as part of its Beyond Meat partnership, a news release said. The test, which the brand qualified as "limited," will take place at one Atlanta-area KFC on Cobb Parkway in Smyrna near SunTrust Park.

The so-called "Beyond Fried Chicken" is available in nuggets with choice of favorite dipping sauce, or boneless wings tossed in either Nashville Hot, Buffalo or Honey BBQ sauce from KFC. The sampling runs from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, and is available for any customer who buys another KFC menu item, while supplies last.

Other meal options with the new plant-based offering including six- or 12-piece nugget combo meals for $6.49 and $8.49, or a four-piece à la carte order for $1.99. Also available for meal-sized servings is the Beyond Chicken boneless wings in six or 12-piece options for $6 and $12. 

"KFC Beyond Fried Chicken is so delicious, our customers will find it difficult to tell that it's plant-based," KFC U.S. President and Chief Concept Officer Kevin Hochman, said in the release. "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!'"

In an earlier QSRweb podcast interview with Hochman, he joked with the show's host that the brand might put together an entrée-box of all vegetable sides for vegetarians, though Hochman did not specify the brand had a plant-based chicken in the works. 

The brand said it would use customer feedback from the Atlanta test to evaluate its next move with the product, including possibly a broader test or potential national rollout.

"KFC is an iconic part of American culture and a brand that I, like so many consumers, grew up with," Beyond Meat founder and CEO Ethan Brown said in the release. "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. My only regret is not being able to see the legendary Colonel himself enjoy this important moment." 

The announcement of plant-based chicken makes the KFC and Beyond Meat partnership a unique one and the first of its kind in the U.S. QSR space.