Atlantans is the first test market for KFC’s new Beyond Meat fried chicken. One metro Atlanta restaurant — the KFC on Cobb Parkway near SunTrust Park address: (2637 Cobb Pkwy SE, Smyrna) – is the first to serve the plant-based fried chicken.
Atlanta music mogul Jermaine Dupri is an early fan. He posted on Twitter about KFC’s new vegan chicken, saying:
“For the record this Beyond Meat KFC is right, if you vegan and you on the fence but you be eating soy nuggets, this should take the place of that, one because these are not soy, also the sauce in the add is honey mustard but it’s not vegan, FYI for any first timers. get the BBQ.”
With the success other fast-food restaurants have had with meatless products (Burger King’s Impossible Burger), KFC parent company Yum Brands wants it to be the first eatery to have a Beyond Chicken item on the menu.
KFC tests plant-based chicken in metro Atlanta
At the Cobb County KFC, customers can get a complimentary sample of Beyond Fried Chicken from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. August 27 (with purchase of any KFC menu item, while supplies last).
Beyond reportedly discontinued its vegan chicken from grocery stores after sales were not robust enough.
KFC is taking a wait and see approach to vegan chicken. If the Atlanta market flocks to the Smyrna location and goes for it, you can expect it to roll out to other states and eventually nationwide.
KFC is trying to strengthen its position domestically after strong showings this year from Chick-Fil-A, which introduced meal kits last year, and Popeyes, which recently debuted a chicken sandwich.
Plant-based cuisine is taking a hold in Atlanta. Several restaurants that specialize in vegan or vegetarian options have sprouted up in Atlanta recently.