We've written this several times before: Beyond Meat's plant-based chicken analogue is coming to Kentucky Fried Chicken. This time they apparently really mean it; it's a national rollout scheduled to begin Jan. 10.
Beginning on that date, apparently all KFC restaurants across the U.S. will offer Beyond Fried Chicken "for a limited time, while supplies last." The product was developed by Beyond Meat exclusively for KFC; the two promise it's as "finger lickin’ good" as the real stuff.
Apparently it wasn't an easy rollout. Our KFC-Beyond Meat stories go back to 2019, when an initial product was test-marketed in at a single restaurant in Smyrna, Ga. KFC claims that made it the first national quick-serve chain to introduce plant-based chicken.
In 2020, KFC launched another test in 50 or so restaurants in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County, Calif. Early last year, Beyond Meat announced a deal with Yum Brands (McDonald's too) that covered several of its restaurant chains, which include Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC.
“The mission from day one was simple – make the world-famous Kentucky Fried Chicken from plants,” said Kevin Hochman, president of KFC U.S. “And now over two years later we can say, ‘mission accomplished.’”
In an ad campaign celebrating the partnership, KFC and Beyond Meat are rolling out the “Magic Chicken Carpet” for actress, producer and creator Liza Koshy, who swoops in to reveal the Kentucky Fried Miracle of plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken. Liza rose to fame on social media, or so the media release says.
In a combo meal, Beyond Fried Chicken is served with a dipping sauce, fries, and a medium drink, or à la carte in six or 12-piece orders. Prices will start at $6.99.
But repeating what we wrote earlier: "for a limited time and while supplies last."
