KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Plant-based meat alternatives are making their way onto more menus in breakfast burritos, meat sauces, pizzas and more.
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s are expanding their partnerships with Beyond Meat Inc. by adding new all-day offerings featuring the company’s plant-based proteins.
“After a successful year with Carl’s Jr. and an initial test with Hardee’s, we’re thrilled to further expand the partnerships across the US and have both brands be among the first to offer Beyond Meat at all times of day,” said Ethan Brown, CEO and founder of Beyond Meat. “The new Beyond Breakfast Sausage is a game changer as it delivers the delicious quick serve breakfast experience that so many of us love and rely on, with the added nutritional and environmental benefits of plant-based meat.”
As part of the partnership expansion, Carl’s Jr. is introducing the Beyond Sausage Burrito and the Beyond Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuit, both made with plant-based Beyond Breakfast Sausage patties.
Hardee’s is launching the Beyond Sausage & Egg Biscuit, Beyond Sausage Burrito and Beyond Sausage Biscuit, all including plant-based Beyond Breakfast Sausage patties. Additionally, the chain is offering the new Original Beyond Thickburger, made with a plant-based Beyond Burger patty.
“Since its debut less than a year ago, Carl’s Jr. has sold more than 6.7 million Beyond Famous Star burgers to-date, making it the most successful product launch in the past two years,” said Patty Trevino, senior vice president of brand marketing at CKE Restaurants, parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. “We’re continuing to build on this success by expanding our Beyond Meat partnership to Hardee’s. As we head into 2020, the addition of these new options at both restaurants is one of the many ways we’re continuing to deliver the innovation and quality Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s are known for while appealing to new audiences including flexitarians, Gen Z and millennials.”
Fazoli’s has joined forces with Impossible Foods Inc. to offer spaghetti dishes featuring plant-based meat sauce. The Italian fast-casual chain is debuting Impossible meat sauce, made with ground Impossible Burger, and testing it at five locations near its headquarters in Lexington. Fazoli’s will incorporate the meat alternative, made with soy protein, into two Italian menu items: Impossible Spaghetti and Impossible Baked Spaghetti.
“Fazoli’s worked on developing a plant-based meat that tastes great to everyone, including meat lovers,” said Rick Petralia, director of culinary innovation at Fazoli’s. “Impossible meat sauce both responds to guests’ ever-changing lifestyle needs and stays true to delivering on the craveable flavors our brand is known for.”
Modern Market Eatery has teamed up with Beyond Meat to develop the new Beyond Sausage Pizza, topped with plant-based Beyond Sausage Italian crumbles.
“Most people associate plant-based protein with hamburgers, but it can be so much more than that,” said Nate Weir, director of culinary for Modern Market. “A plant-based protein pizza that is delicious, innovative and better-for-you fits in well with our food philosophy. Something Modern Market has always done well is make unfamiliar foods more familiar. This is not only a delicious sausage pizza but also an opportunity for us to introduce Beyond Meat to our guests.”
