Just weeks after announcing a major partnership with PepsiCo to produce plant-based snacks, Beyond Meat has inked two major global supply deals with four of the world’s biggest fast-food chains – McDonald’s, FKC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Beyond Meat products have previously been successfully trialled in McDonald’s and KFC in markets such as the U.S., Canada and China.A three-year deal with McDonald’s named Beyond Meat as the preferred supplier for the McPlant, which is currently being tested in Scandinavian markets. If McPlant trials are successful, the new menu item is expected to be launched in more markets in the coming year. In addition, Beyond Meat and McDonald’s will explore co-developing other plant-based menu items – like plant-based options for chicken, pork and eggs – as part of McDonald’s broader McPlant platform.

“We’re excited to work with Beyond Meat to drive innovation in this space, and entering into this strategic agreement is an important step on our journey to bring delicious, high quality, plant-based menu items to our customers,” said Francesca DeBiase, McDonald’s Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer.

Beyond Meat has also agreed to co-develop ‘craveable and innovative plant-based protein menu items’ exclusive to Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, all companies in the Yum! Brands portfolio.  A 2019 Beyond Fried Chicken trial with KFC in Atlanta, Georgia was so popular that a week’s worth of plant-based chicken nuggets sold out in just five hours.

“Given the consumer response during recent tests with Beyond Meat, we’re excited about the long-term potential plant-based protein menu items have to attract more customers to our brands, especially younger consumers,” said Chris Turner, Yum! Brands CFO.

Bruce Friedrich, Executive Director of Good Food Institute was positive about what the announcements mean for the broader alternative protein industry, saying that “when these restaurant chains move, the entire food industry takes notice.” He said McDonald’s and Yum Brands have “doubled down on plant-based meat”, demonstrating the long-term potential they see in the category.

READ MORE: Beyond Meat ties up with McDonald’s, Yum! Brands, gears up for launch of ‘3.0’ platform: ‘When people grab a plant-based burger, they assume it’s going to be healthier’ [Food Navigator]

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