KFC has announced it’s going “beyond” fried chicken with the introduction of a vegan imitation chicken to its menu in one Atlanta-area restaurant on Tuesday.
The fast-food giant will trial the plant-based fried “chicken” in its Smyrna, Georgia, restaurant in partnership with Beyond Meat, a brand that produces “meat that’s made from plants.”
Kevin Hochman, the president of KFC’s U.S. business, said in a news release that customers would find it difficult to tell it was plant-based. “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!’”
While some consumers were disappointed the option would be available only in Atlanta, CNN reported several other fast-food chains had tested plant-based meat alternatives in a similar manner before rolling them out nationwide.
Burger King offered plant-based Impossible Whoppers at one store in St. Louis before making them available across the country, and Dunkin’ trialed Beyond Meat sausage and egg sandwiches in New York before announcing it planned to add the item to all U.S. stores soon.
In a press release, KFC said the Beyond Fried Chicken would be available in the form of nuggets or boneless wings on Tuesday only, and that customer feedback from the test would be considered before a broader test or potential national rollout.