Updated 4 January 2021.
KFC’s vegan chicken burger is back in the UK.
The chain originally launched the sandwich, previously named the Imposter Burger, at all 750 locations at the beginning of 2020. But, due to COVID-19 restrictions, KFC has been running a limited menu, which excluded the vegan chicken burger.
According to The Independent, the burger, now named the Original Recipe Vegan Burger, is available until February 28.
KFC’s vegan chicken burger features a Quorn chicken fillet coated with the fast-food chain’s signature breading and herbs and spices. It’s served with iceberg lettuce and vegan mayonnaise on a glazed bun.
The vegan chicken burger was originally trialed at select restaurants for a four-week period. At least, that was the plan. Due to high demand, the burger sold out in just four days.
“We knew there were plenty of people who would want to get a taste of the Imposter, but we didn’t anticipate this phenomenal response,” Victoria Robertson, the senior innovation leader at KFC, told Metro in June 2019. “We can’t wait to get the Imposter back out in restaurants so vegans can get their finger-lickin’ fix.”
KFC then launched the vegan chicken burger nationwide at the start of January 2020. It still proved to be popular, selling approximately one million by early February.
Vegan at KFC
At U.S.-based KFC locations, at least the potato wedges are vegan. There are no plant-based chicken options, but one may be on the horizon. The chain trialed vegan fried chicken developed by LA-based plant-based meat company Beyond Meat, once in 2019 and again in summer 2020. The second trial featured an improved recipe.
According to Ethan Brown, CEO and founder of Beyond Meat, the company faced challenges recreating the textures of animal-based chicken.
“One of the key things with poultry is you have to get the muscle structure right,” Brown explained to Business Insider. “With something that’s ground, you don’t have to have that same muscle structure, but with chicken, the consumer wants that muscle structure.”
KFC Canada also got its own vegan chicken sandwich in August 2020, which it first trialed in 2019. The meat-free sandwich features a Lightlife chicken patty.
KFC UK’s vegan chicken sandwich is priced at £3.99 and is available for pickup and delivery.
