Looks like KFC is staying out of the chicken sandwich melee going on between Popeyes and Chick-fil-A.
Instead, the national QSR (quick service restaurant) is focused on introducing a plant-based chicken, in partnership with Beyond Meat.
The restaurant turned to plant-based leader 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, which began August 27, will be considered as KFC evaluates a broader test or potential national rollout. .
Customers will be able to order “Beyond Fried Chicken” in nuggets with choice of favorite dipping sauce, like the signature Finger Lickin’ Good sauce, or boneless wings tossed in one of three delicious sauce options: Nashville Hot, Buffalo or Honey BBQ.
“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. “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!'”
ALSO READ: The ‘Chicken Sandwich Wars’ will leave you fried
“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 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,” added Ethan Brown, founder and CEO, Beyond Meat.
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.
Those who want to be among the first to try the new plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken are invited 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).
Bring some of these to LA please so the Reel 360 team can sample.
SOURCE: KFC
