As some chains are seeing the success of plant-based burgers, restaurant operators continue to roll out menu items featuring meat analogues in hopes of driving traffic among consumers looking for meat-free options.
Here are a few of the latest plant-based offerings:
- CKE, the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, announced Wednesday that it will expand its current meatless burger offering to include plant-based breakfast, lunch and dinner items. New items at Carl’s Jr. include the Beyond Sausage Burrito (Beyond Breakfast Sausage patty, scrambled egg, cheese, Hash Rounds, tomatoes and salsa in a tortilla) and the Beyond Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuit (Beyond sausage patty, American cheese and egg on a biscuit). Hardee’s is adding the Beyond Sausage Burrito (Beyond sausage patty, eggs, cheddar and Hash Rounds in a tortilla), the Beyond Sausage Biscuit, the Beyond Sausage & Egg Biscuit and the Original Beyond Thickburger (Beyond Burger patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, dill pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise on a bun).
Photograph courtesy of Hardee's
Carl’s Jr. rolled out its Beyond Famous Star burger less than a year ago, and it became the company’s most successful product launch of the last two years, according to the brand. Carl’s has sold more than 6.7 million of the burgers to date.
- Las Vegas-based fast casual Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop said Wednesday that it is testing a meatless Impossible Cheese Steak sandwich at select Vegas locations. The sandwich is made with plant-based protein from Impossible Foods, peppers, onions and mushrooms. It’s topped with cheese and served on a hoagie bun. The chain is also launching an Impossible Meatball Sandwich. Capriotti’s plans on making the cheesesteak available nationwide early next year.
- Fast-casual Italian chain Fazoli’s is testing a plant-based meat sauce in Lexington, Ky., the company announced this week. Fazoli’s is trialing vegan Impossible Spaghetti made with Impossible meat crumbles, tomatoes, garlic and basil, and a vegetarian Impossible Baked Spaghetti that’s topped with melted mozzarella cheese.
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