Fast-food chain detects meat-free pattern with test item made from plant protein

KFC is to differ Colonel Sanders’ initial “finger lickin’ great” dish by using nuggets made from plants, instead of its conventional chickens.

The fast-food chain stated it was dealing with the quickly growing meat alternative business Beyond Meat on a one-day trial that if effective would result in plant-based chicken nuggets and wings appearing on its United States menu. KFC, which is owned by the New York stock exchange-listed Yum! Brands, has more than 23,000 dining establishments worldwide.

The item is called Beyond Fried Chicken and features the tagline “a Kentucky fried wonder”. The nuggets exist in green instead of KFC’s hallmark red containers and bring the pledge that what’s within is “still finger lickin’ excellent”. The minimal trial includes providing complimentary samples to clients. Kevin Hochman, the chief idea officer of KFC United States, declared clients would “discover it challenging to inform” the nuggets were plant-based.

Shares in Beyond Meat leapt by 4% after the trial was revealed, with Yum! increasing by 1.3%.

KFC is the most recent in a long line of food business that are attempting to interest the growing variety of individuals following a flexitarian — where meat is consumed just sometimes– or entirely plant-based diet plan. Beyond Meat’s primary rival, Impossible Foods, has, for instance, released a meatless Whopper at Burger King .

The menus are altering in the UK too as veganism spreads quickly, with the number increasing from 150,000 in 2014 to 600,000 in 2018, according to the Vegan Society . Restaurants, grocery stores and producers are rushing to capitalize the broadening market, with the durable goods huge Unilever purchasing up the meat replacement company the Vegetarian Butcher and Sainsbury’s opening a pop-up meat-free butcher to motivate Britons to attempt plant-based foods.

Last week Greggs stated it was dealing with vegan variations of all its successful items, from steak bakes to doughnuts and pasties, after the success of its vegan sausage roll.