News

KFC brings back plant-based fried chicken in 2 Southern markets

Photo: Provided

January 29, 2020

Beginning Feb. 3, KFC will offer its plant-based, Beyond Fried Chicken menu items in  Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennesee, and surrounding areas, through Feb. 23. The expanded test comes on the heels of what the brand called overwhelming success with the items in Atlanta last summer when KFC became the nation's first QSR to introduce plant-based chicken with Beyond Meat, a news release said.

During that test, customers formed long lines in both the drive and in-restaurant, KFC said. In fact, the product sold out in under five years. Since then KFC worked to make additional improvements to Beyond Fried Chicken, with a new recipe it said is designed to deliver on the taste and texture of whole muscle chicken.

"The iconic flavor of Kentucky Fried Chicken is one that has never been replicated, despite many imitations, until now," said Andrea Zahumensky, chief marketing officer, KFC U.S., said in the release. "We've really pushed the limits to develop plant-based chicken that I think will have KFC and plant-based protein fans saying, 'That's finger lickin' good.'"