EL SEGUNDO, California (AP) – Vegetable-based food company Beyond Meat will partner with several large fast-food chains in the coming years to expand offerings that could eventually include vegetable burgers, barges or toppings in a crust of stuffed pizza.
Beyond Meat on Thursday announced distribution agreements with McDonald’s and Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
The company based in El Segundo, California, said it will develop plant products for all restaurants, with exclusive menu items for each brand.
Beyond Meat had limited partnerships with McDonald’s and Yum Brands before, testing their products in limited geographies or with only one or two items. Now companies are expanding those ties.
Chicago-based McDonald’s will use the Beyond Meat association to deploy what it calls the “McPlant” burger, as well as eventually plant-based pork, egg and chicken products.
Yum will use Beyond Meat to expand its “Beyond Fried Chicken” products, as well as pizza toppings at Pizza Hut. Yum, based in Louisville, Kentucky, did not set specific menu options for Taco Bell.
Plant-based food products designed to mimic meat have gained popularity in recent years and several large restaurant chains are now experimenting with food science to achieve healthier, more environmentally friendly products for customers. Burger King has partnered with Impossible Foods to provide products that also use plant-based products.