Food & Beverage

KFC heads west for latest Beyond Chicken offering

Image: KFC

July 17, 2020

Kentucky Fried Chicken's Beyond Meat partnership product, Beyond Fried Chicken, is returning to the market, this time to more than 50 stores in the Califorinia areas of Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County, a news release said.

Beyond Fried Chicken is plant-based protein bearing the distinct flavors of KFC, that also looks and pulls apart like a animal-derived chicken breast, as the brand describes it. The Louisville, Kentucky-based chicken chain debuted the product just about this time last year, in August 2019, making the brand the nation's first with a plant-based fried chicken product.

That initial one-day consumer test in Atlanta sold out in less than five hours. Then, in February this year, the brand launched an expanded test in the Nashville, Tennessee and Charlotte, North Carolina markets, which the brand said received an "overwhelmingly positive consumer response."

"I've said it before: Despite many imitations, the flavor of Kentucky Fried Chicken is one that has never been replicated, until Beyond Fried Chicken," KFC U.S. CMO Andrea Zahumensky, said in the release. "We know the East Coast loved it, so we thought we'd give those on the West Coast a chance to tell us what they think in an exclusive sneak peek."

During the California run, Beyond Fried Chicken will come with a choice of dipping sauces and will be available as a six- or 12-piece à la carte item, or as part of a combo with a side and medium drink. Prices will start at $6.99.

Also starting Monday, July 20, fans can find the nearest KFC serving Beyond Fried Chicken by visiting the restaurant locator on kfc.com and looking for the Beyond Fried Chicken indicator. Currently, the chain has more than 24,000 KFC restaurants in over 145 countries and territories around the world.