McDonald's announces long-awaited menu addition
One of the world’s biggest fast food franchises is set to join a host of popular eateries to provide a menu item for vegan customers.
McDonald’s announced this week that in 2021, it would be launching a plant based burger called the McPlant - a menu item sure to rival Hungry Jacks’ popular vegan cheeseburger and Impossible Whopper.
The burger will be tested in a variety of markets next year a McDonald’s spokesperson told Yahoo Finance, but exactly where it will emerge first is currently unknown.
“As we have worked to better understand customer demand, some markets around the world have tested plant-based products,” Ian Borden, McDonald’s International President, said in a statement.
“Informed by those learnings, we have created a delicious burger that will be the first menu option in a plant-based platform we are calling McPlant. McPlant is crafted exclusively for McDonald’s, by McDonald’s.”
Mr Borden said there was potential for the McPlant to extend into other lines of products including chicken-based and breakfast items.
“We expect some markets will test the burger next year. We are excited about the opportunity because we believe we have a proven, delicious-tasting product,” he said.
“When customers are ready for it, we are ready for them.”
A spokesperson for the brand in Australia said there were no “immediate” plans to launch the vegan burger Down Under.
There is already a P.L.T (plant, lettuce, tomato) burger for sale in Canada, although the item comes with regular cheese so is vegetarian, not vegan.
“We don’t have any immediate plans for the McPlant to be launched in Australia. However, we do still serve the vegetable-based McVeggie burger for customers looking for a meat alternative option,” they told Yahoo News Australia.
McPlant patty developed in partnership with Beyond Meat
The McPlant patty was developed in a partnership with US plant-based meat substitute company Beyond Meat, however exact ingredients have not yet been revealed.
Beyond Meat shares initially plunged when news of the McPlant broke, but recovered after the company assured shareholders of its role in the developing process.
“Beyond Meat and McDonalds co-created the plant-based patty which will be available as part of their McPlant platform,” a spokesperson told Yahoo Finance.
The news comes after KFC made vegan chicken a permanent menu fixture following a successful trial, joining Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Hungry Jacks and Subway in providing vegan fast food options.
With Yahoo Finance
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