Marking National Cheeseburger Day, Nestlé has launched its plant-based ‘bacon cheeseburger’ in the US.

To date, this is the first time any kind of plant-based alternative to a bacon cheeseburger has been launched in the US.

It will be available for foodservice customers nationwide and can be purchased under the Sweet Earth brand at the University of Massachusetts.

In the months to come, additional US university operators, restaurants and foodservice channels will be added, Nestlé said.

The plant-based burger patties, bacon and cheese use a combination of natural kitchen-cupboard ingredients.

Nestlé food scientists, product developers and culinary chefs worked together to get the right taste, texture and appearance, as well as a good nutritional profile.

They also worked alongside foodservice experts to tailor the products for use in professional kitchens, taking into account their specific cooking and serving requirements.

The Plant-based (PB) Triple Play was developed by Nestlé in only 10 months, reflecting the company’s ability to further accelerate project timelines despite the current challenging environment.

It is the result of Nestlé’s deep expertise in protein science as well as its global research, prototyping and accelerator facilities, allowing the company to rapidly expand its portfolio of plant-based alternatives to beef, pork, chicken, seafood and dairy products.