From the end of this year, Taco Bell will begin testing a dish based on Beyond Meat in its restaurants. The chain has not said what the dish will look like, but said it will not be the normal planet-based replacement you have seen in other restaurants, as it will work with Beyond Meat to develop the protein. “I’d say it’s going to be exclusive to the things you’ve seen elsewhere, so we’re definitely going to put our Taco Bell innovation and spin on it,” said Liz Matthews, global head of food innovation at Taco Bell, CNBC.
And now, an announcement from our CEO. pic.twitter.com/JHHJMrPEJH
– Taco Bell (@tacobell) January 14, 2021
If you’re following the expansion of Beyond Meat (and Impossible Foods), you know that Taco Bell is late for the game. Some of its competitors, like KFC and McDonald’s, have been testing vegetable-based meat substitutes since at least 2019. But it is still a significant ad by the chain, especially as it works to win back vegetarians. During the summer, Taco Bell cut eight items, including vegetarian favorites like Pizza Mexicana, from its menu to simplify its operations during the pandemic. That’s why before the launch of Beyond Meat, the company will bring potatoes back on March 11th. Not every potato-based dish that has been cut will come back, but you can order more popular dishes, such as the soft spicy potato taco.