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KFC is planning to launch vegan fried chicken in Chinese outlets, according to reports.
The fast-food chain will sell the plant-based meat in three outlets between April 28-30.
Vegan KFC
The stores trialing the new option are Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
A serving of five vegan chicken pieces will cost 1.99 yuan. In order to sample the animal-free offering, customers have to buy a pre-sale coupon.
News outlet Reuters says the meat-alternative will be made by American meat giant Cargill.
Vegan KFC in the US and UK
KFC has trialed vegan chicken in both the UK and the US.
After the sell-out success of an animal-free burger trial in the UK in 2019, KFC added its Vegan Burger to the permanent menu in January 2020 – selling more than 1,000,000 burgers in the first month.
The chain trialed vegan options in Atlanta last year, with people queuing around the block. It expanded the trial to 66 restaurants in the Charlotte, N.C., and Nashville areas in February, selling animal-free options for three weeks.
Controversy
While vegan options at KFC have been popular with many consumers, they have also divided opinion within the vegan community.
A survey carried out by magazine Vegan Food & Living earlier this year revealed that 57 percent of respondents ‘would never eat at KFC, even if there were more vegan options’.
“You’re still putting money into the coffers of company that makes its primary source of money off of the slaughter of a specific animal…this is just a marketing ploy,” one social media user said talking about the chain releasing animal-free options.
