Kentucky Fried Chicken, an iconic chain known for its breaded and deep-fried morsels of the bird it’s named for, will become the first fast-food restaurant to test a plant-based chicken substitute.
The company is partnering with Beyond Meat, which also produces beef and pork sausage substitutes. According to a press release, KFC will roll out the “chicken” at one store in Atlanta beginning on Aug. 27, and will offer nuggets available in six or 12-piece combo meals, as well as a four-piece à la carte option.
[Also read: Burger King releases meatless burger]
The chicken joint will also offer boneless wings in six and 12-piece options for $6 and $12, respectively.
“KFC Beyond Fried Chicken is so delicious, our customers will find it difficult to tell that it’s plant-based,” Kevin Hochman, KFC president and chief concept officer, said. “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!’”
Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, told the Washington Examiner in a statement that PETA was pleased with KFC’s decision to try out the plant-based offerings.
“As smart businesses race to meet the sky-high demand for tasty vegan options, if this rollout of Beyond Fried Chicken goes national, it would almost certainly mean profits by the bucketful—and countless chickens’ lives saved,” Reiman said.
The new meatless offering may spread to more stores depending how customers react to the test run. Based on feedback the company will decide whether to expand the nuggets and wings to a broader test, or potentially a national rollout.
“My only regret is not being able to see the legendary Colonel himself enjoy this important moment,” said Ethan Brown, the founder and CEO of Beyond Meat.
