Last year, KFC teamed up with Beyond Meat to trial plant-based fried chicken in the US. Now, the two companies are continuing their partnership with the roll-out of Beyond Fried Chicken to Southern California.

From this week, the plant-based fried chicken product will be available in more than 50 selec KFC restaurants in the Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego areas across Southern California – wher Beyond Meat’s headquarters is based.

KFC and Beyond Meat worked together to develop a plant-based fried chicken that would appeal to both companies’ consumers. Boasting a texture that looks and pulls apart like chicken breast, the product is flavoured with KFC’s iconic spice blend.

Beyond Fried Chicken debuted in August of 2019, making KFC the first national QSR to introduce plant-based fried chicken in the US in partnership with Beyond Meat.

The menu item was first available in a one-day consumer test in Atlanta and sold out in less than five hours.

Following additional product development, KFC launched an expanded market test of Beyond Fried Chicken in February in the Nashville and Charlotte markets, which received an overwhelmingly positive consumer response.

“I’ve said it before: despite many imitations, the flavour of Kentucky Fried Chicken is one that has never been replicated, until Beyond Fried Chicken,” said Andrea Zahumensky, Chief Marketing Officer of KFC US.

“We know the east coast loved it, so we thought we’d give those on the west coast a chance to tell us what they think in an exclusive sneak peek.

Southern California is home to Beyond Meat’s headquarters, and there is a lot of excitement in the area for increased plant-based options, making it a perfect fit for an exclusive sneak peek of Beyond Fried Chicken.