By Hilary Russ
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Yum Brands Inc’s KFC restaurants will start selling plant-based fried “chicken” from Beyond Meat Inc across the United States on Jan. 10 for a limited time, KFC said on Tuesday.
Beyond shares rose about 7% in after market trading.
KFC started testing Beyond’s plant-based chicken in August 2019 in Atlanta and expanded to more areas the following year.
In February 2021, Yum and Beyond announced a global partnership to create plant-based menu items for Yum’s KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza hut over “the next several years.”
Major fast-food chains have been vying for partnerships with faux meat makers as they add vegan and vegetarian menu options. Beyond rival Impossible foods is working with Burger King, a unit of Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Prices for the Beyond Fried Chicken at KFC will start at $6.99 in most places but will vary by location.
(Reporting by Hilary Russ; Editing by Richard Pullin)