KFC Launches Finger Lickin’ Beyond Fried Chicken: Business Casual

Powered by RedCircle

Launching their faux chicken version of their product in about 50 locations in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego next week, Kentucky Fried Chicken is joining the ranks of burger chains and other restaurants vying for customers that prefer plant-based dietary options. But is the offering as ‘finger lickin’ good’ as KFC’s tried and true menu? Well, in a trial run last year in Atlanta, the dish sold out in just one hour! A culinary collaboration between Beyond Meat and KFC and coated in an exclusive-to-KFC breading that is similar to the chain’s popcorn nugget breading, Beyond Fried Chicken is the first protein derived from plants—not animals—to be offered at a national chicken chain in the U.S. However, vegetarian-, vegan-, non-GMO, and gluten-free buyers beware: while 100% plant-based, KFC’s Beyond Fried Chicken dishes will be prepared in the same fryers and oil as their world-famous Kentucky Fried Chicken, which may not make the product acceptable for those that adhere to certain dietary restrictions or those with peanut/legume allergies.

On this Business Casual segment, MarketScale co-hosts Taylor Bagley, Tyler Kern, and Daniel Litwin discuss:

  1. Whether the SoCal launch will be as successful as the trial in Atlanta
  2. If this move could lead to more sustainable fast food dining options
  3. How plant-based chicken may impact KFC’s existing B2B sourcing relationships
  4. The best way to market this new product

Every week, Business Casual brings topics to the forefront that affect the food and beverage sector and other B2B industries. For continuing thought leadership, tune in to MarketScale’s Business Casual each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the trends and news shaping our menus and world today.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Food & Beverage Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

healthcare
The Future of Employer Benefits: Balancing Rising Healthcare Costs with Creative, Employee-Centered Perks
August 28, 2025

The landscape of employee benefits has undergone a seismic shift in the last decade. From the rise of telemedicine to the introduction of lifestyle spending accounts and stipends for services like DoorDash and HelloFresh, employers are reimagining how they support workers in a post-pandemic, inflation-conscious world. With healthcare costs rising and talent competition intensifying,…

Read More
How Smart EHR Features Return Time to Patient Care: Insights from Healthcare Leaders
August 27, 2025

When Documentation Technology Finally Works for Clinicians At ChartLogic, we’ve spent years perfecting the features that matter most to healthcare providers. But rather than tell you what we think works, we wanted to hear directly from clinicians about the EHR capabilities that have genuinely improved their workflows. We asked healthcare professionals: Have you ever used…

Read More
sustainability
From Green Initiatives to Guest Loyalty: Building the Future of Hospitality Through Tree Planting and Plastic Cleanup Programs
August 27, 2025

Sustainability is no longer optional in hospitality—it’s the expectation. A recent Booking.com report found that 84 percent of global travelers now prioritize making their trips more sustainable, raising the bar for hotels worldwide. Yet too many properties are still relying on the basics—like towel reuse cards or energy-saving reminders—that guests increasingly see as table stakes….

Read More
The Future of Directional Drilling: How Emerging Technologies Are Reshaping Performance Standards
August 27, 2025

Driving Innovation in Energy Exploration At Altitude Energy Partners, we’ve long understood that the future of energy development depends on continuous innovation in directional drilling technology. As formations become more complex and environmental standards more stringent, the industry is experiencing a technological revolution that promises to redefine what’s possible in drilling performance. We asked industry…

Read More