KFC Launches Finger Lickin’ Beyond Fried Chicken: Business Casual

Daniel Litwin
Jul 22, 2020
Learn more
Beyond Fried Chicken Beyond Meat Business Casual Daniel Litwin Podcast Kentucky Fried Chicken KFC MarketScale Plant-Based Chicken Taylor Bagley Podcast Tyler Kern Podcast

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

mentorship
WAVIT’s Mentorship Program: Cyndie Nelson on Building Careers Through Guidance
July 19, 2025

The AV industry, like many others in tech, often thrives on innovation—but it’s mentorship that sustains it. Behind every successful professional is often a mentor who provided guidance, shared hard-earned lessons, and opened doors that might have otherwise stayed shut. Programs like WAVIT (Women in AV/IT) bring this spirit of mentorship into focus by intentionally…

Read More
mentorship
Empowering Innovation: Kim Porter’s Role in the WAVIT Mentorship Program
July 19, 2025

In an industry where innovation often hinges on experience, mentorship is the bridge that connects the wisdom of the past with the promise of the future. Engineering, especially in the mechanical domain, is traditionally seen as a discipline of precision, but its culture is just as vital as its calculations. That’s why programs like WAVIT’s…

Read More
mentorship
Passion, Power, and the Mentorship Paradigm Shift in Tech
July 19, 2025

In today’s rapidly evolving tech world, mentorship has emerged as more than a professional development tool—it’s a powerful human connection that fosters resilience, purpose, and authenticity. Particularly for women in engineering and STEM, mentorship isn’t just about career guidance; it’s a lifeline to navigating environments where their voices may still fight to be heard. While…

Read More
AV
Lessons in Leadership: Mitek’s Cyndie Nelson on the Power of Mentoring Women in AV Technology
July 19, 2025

Mentorship has long been considered a cornerstone of professional development, but in the fast-evolving world of AV technology and sales, its value has never been more evident. The unspoken nuances of tradecraft—those bits of wisdom not found in textbooks—are often only accessible through the lived experience of mentors. Particularly for women in traditionally male-dominated industries,…

Read More
Related
Produce distribution
Software & Technology
The Produce Distribution Industry Needs Flexibility, Empathy, and a New Generation of Talent
May 1, 2025
Experts Talk graphic, Carl Udler on QSR connectivity
Healthcare
How Hughes is Powering the Future of QSR Connectivity & Fast Food Tech
March 14, 2025

Quick service restaurants (QSRs) are under increasing pressure to enhance speed, efficiency, and customer experience—all while managing a growing network of digital systems. From AI-powered ordering kiosks to real-time kitchen automation, modern QSRs are more connected than ever. The restaurant AI market was valued at $9.68 billion in 2024, and expected to reach $49…

Read More
77X Frozen Cocktail Series
Healthcare
Benefits of the 77X Frozen Cocktail Series
July 31, 2024

The frozen beverage market is booming globally, but many businesses face challenges in serving frozen cocktails due to traditional equipment’s inefficiencies. The 77X Frozen Cocktail Series from FBD addresses these challenges and provides a seamless business solution. This advanced system eliminates product inconsistency and waste through its closed, sealed design and bag-in-box technology, ensuring…

Read More