On January 10, KFC will launch its first plant-based hen possibility nationwide at its greater than 4,000 areas. The brand new Past Fried Hen was created in partnership with vegan model Past Meat to copy KFC’s well-known fried hen however with out animal merchandise. Past Fried Hen might be ordered à la carte in six-piece or 12-piece sizes, or as a part of KFC’s first plant-based combo meal which comes with KFC Secret Recipe Fries (which don’t include animal elements) and a medium drink. Costs differ by location.
“We couldn’t be prouder to associate with KFC to supply a best-in-class product that not solely delivers the scrumptious expertise customers count on from this iconic chain, but additionally offers the added advantages of plant-based meat,” Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Past Meat, stated in a press release. “We’re actually thrilled to make it out there to customers nationwide.”
Whereas the Past Fried Hen itself doesn’t include animal merchandise, KFC notes that the plant-based hen shouldn’t be ready in a vegan-friendly approach because it shares gear with different menu objects, together with hen. It is usually served with a alternative of three dipping sauces, Honey BBQ, Ranch, Honey Mustard, and KFC Sauce—all of which include animal-derived elements. The Past Fried Hen is on the market for a restricted time at collaborating areas nationwide whereas provides final.
KFC’s plant-based hen journey
Past Meat and KFC (which is owned by Yum! Manufacturers) has been working collectively for a number of years to launch a vegan model of its famed fried hen. In August 2019, KFC examined Beyond Fried Chicken (in two codecs: nuggets and boneless wings) at one location in Atlanta, GA the place it promptly offered out inside 5 hours of launch. KFC expanded the take a look at to just about 70 areas in Charlotte, NC, Nashville, TN, and surrounding areas adopted by 50 Southern California areas for a restricted time in 2020. The California take a look at areas additionally proved wildly profitable and offered out of Past Fried Hen inside per week.
In 2021, KFC US President Kevin Hochman commented concerning the chain’s continued curiosity in growing plant-based hen, stating that it was seeking to recreate its well-known hen as intently as attainable with out utilizing animal merchandise. With the nationwide launch introduced, it seems to be like KFC and Past Meat have nailed it. “The mission from day one was easy—make the world-famous Kentucky Fried Hen from vegetation,” Hochman stated in a press release. “And now, over two years later we are able to say, ‘mission achieved.’”
KFC and Past Meat additionally tapped social media star Liza Koshy to be the face of its co-branded “Kentucky Fried Miracle” marketing campaign to advertise the nationwide launch of Past Fried Hen.
Past Meat is altering the fast-food panorama
Legacy manufacturers within the fast-food area need to modernize within the plant-based path as a way to enhance their sustainability metrics and entice new prospects who’re more and more on the lookout for extra plant-based choices. Many of those chains have turned to Past Meat for assist.
Along with KFC, Past is working with different Yum! Manufacturers-owned chains to convey plant-based proteins to their menus, together with Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. In 2020, Pizza Hut launched two pizzas topped with Past Meat’s Italian sausage nationwide earlier than exploring a launch of Past Pepperoni in 2021 at 70 take a look at areas throughout 5 cities.
At Taco Bell, Past Meat has been working to develop a never-before-seen plant-based protein within the QSR area for greater than a yr. Late final yr, rumors started circulating that Taco Bell rejected plant-based carne asada that Past Meat developed as a part of its partnership. Nonetheless, Taco Bell confirmed to VegNews that its partnership with Past Meat was ongoing, with plans to launch the novel plant-based protein within the close to future.
Past Meat additionally labored with Panda Specific to develop a vegan model of its orange hen, the Past the Authentic Orange Hen which was first examined—and well-received—at choose areas in New York and Los Angeles in July 2021. By October 2021, Panda Express expanded the take a look at to 70 areas throughout 10 states and if all goes effectively, the chain plans so as to add the vegan orange hen to its greater than 2,000 areas nationwide.
And whereas all of those chains are big companions, Past Meat’s greatest account is McDonald’s. The vegan model is at the moment working with the worldwide fast-food large underneath a three-year partnership to develop its McPlant platform, which may lead to market-specific launches of assorted plant-based objects equivalent to hen, bacon, and breakfast sandwiches. To date, the partnership has resulted within the launch of the McPlant, a plant-based burger that includes a bespoke Past Meat patty. The McPlant is at the moment being examined at eight US areas and is hitting all McDonald’s areas throughout the UK this week.
For extra about vegan at KFC, learn:
KFC Canada Sells Out of Vegan Chicken in Six Hours
KFC Sells One Million Vegan Chicken Burgers in the UK in January
KFC Adds Vegan Chicken Burger to Permanent Menu Across UK