One of America’s favorite fast-fried food chains, Kentucky Fried Chicken® becomes the first national U.S. QSR (quick-service restaurant) to introduce a plant-based chicken, in partnership with Beyond Meat®!
“KFC is an iconic part of American culture and a brand that I, like so many consumers, grew up with. To be able to bring Beyond Fried Chicken, in all of its KFC-inspired deliciousness to market, speaks to our collective ability to meet the consumer where they are and accompany them on their journey.
My only regret is not being able to see the legendary Colonel himself enjoy this important moment,” said Ethan Brown, founder and CEO, Beyond Meat.
The new plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken offers the “finger-lickin’ good” fried chicken flavor, that only KFC can deliver, as a perfect choice for those searching for plant-based meat options while on-the-go.
Atlantans will be the first to get a taste of KFC’s new Beyond Fried Chicken as part of an exclusive, one restaurant test on August 27 at the Cobb Parkway restaurant near SunTrust Park
in Atlanta (2637 Cobb Pkwy South East, Smyrna, Ga.).
Beyond Fried Chicken is available in nuggets, with choice of favorite dipping sauce, like KFC’s
signature ‘Finger-Lickin’ Good’ sauce, or boneless wings tossed in one of three delicious sauce
options: Nashville Hot, Buffalo or Honey BBQ.
KFC is inviting all who want to be the first to try the new plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken to stop by the Cobb Parkway restaurant for a complimentary sample of Beyond Fried Chicken from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, August 27 (with purchase of any KFC menu
item, while supplies last).
There will be several options to choose from to make this a plant-based, Colonel-approved, Beyond Fried Chicken meal:
-nuggets available in 6 or 12-piece combo meals (which include a side and medium drink) for $6.49 and $8.49, or 4-piece àla carte for $1.99.
“KFC Beyond Fried Chicken is so delicious, our customers will find it difficult to tell that it’s
plant-based,” said Kevin Hochman, president and chief concept officer, KFC U.S. “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!’”
KFC turned to plant-based leader, Beyond Meat, to create a finger lickin’ good plant-based fried chicken that will appeal to lovers of both Beyond Meat and KFC. Customer feedback from the
Atlanta test will be carefully considered as KFC evaluates potential national rollout.
Beyond Meat began developing its revolutionary plant-based meat in 2009 and since then has
introduced several breakthrough products across the brand’s beef, pork and poultry platforms.
The announcement of plant-based chicken makes the KFC and Beyond Meat partnership a unique one and the first of its kind in the U.S. QSR space.
KFC has a history of frequently testing unique and craveable menu items as a part of the
brand’s food innovation strategy, considering food trends and evaluating customer feedback to
KFC’s test offerings. This limited, one-restaurant test of Beyond Fried Chicken is part of KFC’s
continued commitment to understanding its consumers’ tastes and preferences.
