SHANGHAI — Yum China Holdings Inc. announced that the Beyond Burger from Beyond Meat will be offered at select KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations in mainland China beginning on June 3.
“We see great potential for the plant-based meat market in China,” said Joey Wat, chief executive officer of Yum China. “This latest introduction across KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands is expected to capture valuable consumer feedback across different regions in China. It will enable us to optimize flavors and processes and help assess the potential for larger-scale rollouts in the future. This exciting development is the latest iteration of our on-going commitment to introduce new and innovative products to Chinese consumers.”
KFC plans to offer Beyond Burgers as a 3-day limited time offer at five locations in Beijing, Chedngdu, Hangzhou and Shanghai.
Pizza Hut is also launching its first-ever burger offerings by testing a combo set that includes both a Beyond Burger and an Australian sirloin steak burger at six stores in Shanghai from June 8-11. Finally, Taco Bell will offer a taco made with the plant-based Beyond Burger patty at three stores in Shanghai from June 3-10.
“We are proud to further our partnership with the Yum family of brands by launching Beyond Meat offerings at select KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell locations in mainland China,” said Ethan Brown, founder, and CEO of Beyond Meat.
The plant-based company previously tested its product in China over the last year. In April 2020, KFC tested plant-based chicken nuggets at select stores in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. In December 2019, Taco Bell tried a plant-based pork taco at select stores in Shanghai.
Beyond Meat, founded in 2009, makes plant protein for meatballs, chicken strips, tenders, beef crumbles, and burger patties. The products are made with soy or pea protein and are free of gluten, dairy, trans fats, cholesterols, and GMO ingredients.