Fast Food

Seth and Spike exterior PLNT Burger

© PLNT Burger
veg+

Seth Goldman & Spike Mendelsohn: “The Whole Category Has Been Under Assault by the Animal-Based Meat Industry”

Seth Goldman and Spike Mendelsohn, well-known to most of our US readers, are the visionaries behind Eat the Change and PLNT Burger, one of the most successful plant-based fast food chains in North America. Mendelsohn is the chef and owner of Vim & Victor, We the Pizza, Santa Rosa Taqueria, and Good Stuff Eatery, while Goldman co-founded Honest Tea and has served as a member of the board at Beyond Meat for over ten years. The duo have been working together for years after meeting in 2017 at a food policy panel at George Washington University. Leveraging Goldman’s mission-driven entrepreneurial expertise and Mendelsohn’s culinary prowess, the two partners have launched multiple successful endeavors since they joined forces. The pair launched their first joint business, PLNT …

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Neat Burger to close four London locations

© Neat Burger

Neat Burger to Close Four London Locations Following Decrease in Footfall

UK-based vegan restaurant chain Neat Burger has announced it will be closing four of its London locations due to “macro pressures reflected across the industry”. The company said the shift towards remote and hybrid working patterns had reduced footfall, while rising food, energy, and property costs were also negatively impacting sales. Neat Burger’s losses increased by 140% last year, reaching £7.9 million. Consequently, the chain’s restaurants in Liverpool Street, Canary Wharf, Oxford Street, and Westfield Stratford will close before Christmas, leaving four remaining locations. Neat Burger says any future expansion will focus on compact, high-footfall locations, and has dropped plans for new sites in Kings Road, Waterloo, Queensway, and the O2 Arena. The chain will also work to expand its delivery radius in partnership with …

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Burger King has launched a plant-based restaurant in Puerto Rico.

© Burger King Puerto Rico

Burger King Launches 15th Plant-Based Restaurant Powered by The Vegetarian Butcher in Puerto Rico

Article update 15 Nov: The Vegetarian Butcher informs us that this location does serve a “limited amount of eggs and dairy,” and as such consumers must be conscious of this if visiting the restaurant. Burger King has launched its 15th plant-based restaurant, powered by The Vegetarian Butcher: “La Casa Veggie,” in Puerto Rico.  Using the motto, “Try the green side of flavor,” the new store in Plaza Trujillo Alto offers customers a “full veggie experience,” including plant-based versions of Burger King classics such as Whopper, Long Chicken Sandwich, Nuggets, and other options, such as salads and wraps, all made with The Vegetarian Butcher’s products.  Simultaneously, Burger King has launched its veggie options on the regular menus in all of its Puerto Rico locations. “The taste …

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Neat Burger

© Neat Burger

Neat Burger Continues its Epic Expansion with First-Ever Italian Location

The UK vegan fast food chain Neat Burger, backed by the famous animal and environmental activists Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, has gained media attention in Italy. As revealed by local newspapers, the first-ever Neat Burger in Italy will open its doors in Milan on November 15, 2023. The new restaurant will be inside Merlata Bloom, a newly opened mega mall in Cascina Merlata, a district of the Northern city. The chain will offer its popular menu of plant-based versions of all-American classics, including burgers, shakes, wraps, and sandwiches. However, to make it more local, the chain will introduce Italian products, such as pesto and mozzarella, said Italy24. Moreover, according to Green Me, the Milanese eatery will feature table service, taking inspiration …

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Furahaa launches public fundraising campaign

Arthur Devillers © Furahaa

French Vegan Chain Furahaa Launches €1M Fundraising Campaign to Fuel International Expansion

Furahaa, a vegan fast-food chain based in France, has launched its first ever public fundraising campaign. The company hopes to raise €1 million via a secure platform, opening up 10% of its capital to the public. The funding will enable Furahaa to expand its mini-franchise concept, Furahaa Express. The chain hopes to open at least 30 franchised restaurants in 2024 alone, based in compact containers containing a kitchen and extraction system. The aim is to make vegan food as widely accessible as possible, which will include expanding beyond France. Furahaa also has a B2B arm, PlantB2B, which provides plant-based products to food service customers. Additionally, the company operates the vegan subscription box service ViVeg. Founded by deaf entrepreneur Arthur Devillers, Furahaa works to provide job …

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The Beefy Boys vegan burger

© The Beefy Boys

UK Chain The Beefy Boys Launches Its First Vegan Burger

The Beefy Boys, a UK burger chain with locations in Hereford, Cheltenham, and Shrewsbury, has introduced its first vegan option. The Beef Free Boy consists of a mushroom-based patty in a bun with lettuce, onion, gherkin, vegan dirty mayo, and vegan cheese. The launch comes in response to growing customer demand for plant-based options; while the chain does already offer three meatless burgers, they all contain dairy cheese. The burger has now rolled out at all three Beefy Boys locations after a successful trial in Hereford in July. Launched in 2011, The Beefy Boys is said to have a cult following and won two categories at this year’s National Burger Awards. The chain prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients and authentic cooking methods. “Our …

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Taco Bell Vegan Nacho Cheese

© Taco Bell Corp.

Taco Bell Announces Nationwide Launch of Vegan Nacho Sauce in the United States

Taco Bell is reintroducing its popular Nacho Fries, but this time with a plant-based twist. The fast-food chain is launching the dish with Vegan Nacho Sauce, marking its first national release of a vegan limited-time offering.  On October 12th, the Nacho Fries with Vegan Nacho Sauce will be available at participating Taco Bell locations across the entire United States as part of the chain’s aim to expand its appeal to customers with various dietary preferences.   In 2022, vegetarian options accounted for 23% of Taco Bell’s product sales, prompting trials of a Vegan Crunchwrap at select US locations in June 2023, which also featured Vegan Nacho Cheese. After receiving positive feedback, the company began working on ways to offer the sauce on a broader scale.  Liz …

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Chunk Foods chunk steak sandwich

© Neat Burger

Chunk Foods Partners with Neat Burger to Launch Chunk Steak Sandwich in Manhattan

Chunk Foods has unveiled its newest foodservice partnership, this time collaborating with Neat Burger, a vegan fast-casual restaurant headquartered in London UK. The centerpiece of this collaboration is the Chunk Steak Sandwich, now available exclusively at Neat Burger’s Nolita location in the heart of Manhattan.  This partnership represents a significant step forward for Chunk Foods, as it marks the introduction of Chunk Steak to the fast-casual dining landscape. Founder and CEO of Chunk Foods, Amos Golan, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We’re thrilled to partner with Neat Burger to introduce the Chunk Steak Sandwich. This marks a milestone as Chunk steak becomes available at a fast-casual dining establishment for the first time.” The Nolita location opened earlier this year, making it the first …

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Mcdonald's Mcplant

© Mcdonald's

McDonald’s Launches the McPlant in Switzerland and Slovenia

McDonald’s continues its global plant-based menu expansion following the successful launch of the McPlant Steakhouse in the Netherlands, which features a patty co-developed with Beyond Meat and three other new plant-based options. Now, Switzerland and Slovenia are the latest European destinations to add meatless offerings to the menu. McPlant in Switzerland As the popularity of flexitarianism continues to grow in Switzerland, McDonald’s is catering to the demand by introducing the McPlant to the menu. The plant-based patty is crafted in collaboration with Beyond Meat and can be served entirely plant-based by omitting the cheese and sauce.  Lara Skripitsky, managing director of McDonald’s Switzerland, highlights: “With the McPlant, we offer our guests who eat flexitarian food even more choice. The McPlant patty is made from plant-based …

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McDonald's Netherlands new meatless options

© McDonald's Netherlands

McDonald’s Netherlands Launches More Meatless Options, Places Them Before Beef on Menus

McDonald’s Netherlands has added four new options to its meatless range, as the chain works to encourage customers to choose more sustainable alternatives. The new menu items are: McPlant Steakhouse: A beef-style burger with chargrill sauce, temporarily available alongside the original McPlant. The burger is fully plant-based if ordered without cheese. Meatless McKroket: A breaded jackfruit burger that will temporarily replace the conventional meat-based McKroket. The burger is plant-based if ordered without sauce. In blind taste tests, many testers reportedly did not notice that the patty was meatless and described it as having a “signature McDonald’s taste”. Veggie Nuggets: A vegetarian option that will be permanently available. The nuggets contain dairy and eggs, making them unsuitable for vegans. Veggie Chicken Honey Mustard Salad: A salad …

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BK Germany Spongebob Meal Deal

© Burger King Germany

Germany: Burger King Launches Plant-Based SpongeBob Inspired Bikini Bottom Burger

Inspired by cartoon character SpongeBob (whose home is called Bikini Bottom in the popular series), Burger King Germany launches the Bikini Bottom Burger with vegetable patty and pineapple sauce, available in a standard size or junior deal for kids. The “patty is not a meat alternative … just without meat,” notes BK. Burger King, the pioneer in meat-free burgers in Germany, now offers customers another plant-based alternative, and instead of imitating the taste of beef, chicken, or fish, the fast food chain has developed a new vegetable patty product. It consists of salsify, beets, other vegetables, and herbs, is tender on the inside but firm to the bite in consistency and crispy on the outside, according to the chain. In the Bikini Bottom Burger, the …

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Mr. Charlie's Vegan Big Mac

©Mr. Charlie's

“Vegan McDonald’s” Mr. Charlie’s to Open First Australian Location

Mr. Charlie’s, the US fast food chain often referred to as the “vegan McDonald’s”, is expanding into Australia with a new location in Sydney. Based in the suburb of Redfern, the store has already been built and will open in the coming weeks. The location has been chosen partially due to its proximity to the Aboriginal Employment Strategy offices; Mr. Charlie’s plans to work with charities and brand partners to provide opportunities for indigenous communities. This echoes the chain’s practices in the US, where it has hired several homeless or formerly incarcerated staff members with the aim of “employing people so deserving of a second chance but overlooked by a broken system”. Employees are paid above the minimum wage. “More than a vegan burger joint” …

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Hart house anniversary

© Hart House

Hart House Marks 1st Anniversary With WHIPT Collab & Week of Celebratory Events

Hart House, the plant-based quick-service restaurant (QSR) founded by comedian Kevin Hart, is gearing up to celebrate its first anniversary in style. In just 12 months, Hart House has rapidly expanded to four locations across Southern California and has also hit the road with its own food truck. To celebrate the milestone, two of the So-Cal locations invite customers to “Party With Hart.” The Hollywood and University Park South locations of Hart House will host anniversary parties on August 25, from 6 pm to 8 pm, where guests can enjoy swag giveaways, games, and live music. Additionally, Hart House has joined forces with WHIPT, the creator of plant-based whipped toppings, to offer a special edition milkshake to mark the occasion. The “House Party” vanilla mint …

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Next Level Burger Steak Burger

©Next Level Burger

Next Level Burger Says its Vegan Meals Are Displacing Meat Consumption

Portland, Oregon-based Next Level Burger, which raised $20M last year stating lofty plans to quadruple its store count and open 1,000 locations by 2025, states it is disrupting the fast-casual industry with its sustainable offerings. The vegan fast food chain, which is currently operating ten locations in the USA, reports that it carried out a survey of 339 respondents from Next Level Burger stores in five key markets — Portland, Denver, Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Seattle — which it says shows how its vegan offerings are displacing meat consumption. In its methodology, Next Level Burger says it did not include its Texas store in the survey. “Known for a barbecue and beef-centric food culture, we would expect even more guests in the Texas market who …

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Image courtesy ProVeg International

Optimise Your Plant-Based Menu Strategy to Drive Fast Food Sales and Save the Planet

Menu presentation is a key factor for consumer success in fast food chains, and a vital aspect of menu presentation is where you position plant-based products. But what’s the solution – displaying plant-based dishes separately to animal-based menu options, integrated with animal-based offerings, or both? In the latest New Food Hub article, ProVeg International summarised learnings from its recently published International Fast Food Ranking Report. The project assessed the landscape of plant-based offerings at the biggest fast-food chains worldwide, using ProVeg’s scorecard methodology to rank the top-five restaurants, and highlights opportunities to capitalise on growing consumer trends in plant-based eating. To integrate or not to integrate? The International Fast Food Ranking gave the highest points to fast-food restaurants that integrated fully plant-based items into their …

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PLNT Burger kids meal

© PLNT Burger

PLNT Burger Launches the Cool Kids Meal to Empower Kids to Shape a Better Future for Our Planet

PLNT Burger, the plant-based, fast-casual restaurant concept headed by chef Spike Mendelsohn, one of the fastest-growing vegan fast food chains in North America, announces its reimagined “Cool Kids Meal,” aimed at inspiring and empowering children to become superheroes for the planet. As part of the campaign, PLNT Burger is conducting various promotions and initiatives including: 1. Kids Eat Free: Monday nights in August and Early September, PLNT Burger is hosting families, and when ordering in-store, kids can enjoy a free Cool Kids Meal when their parents purchase any main dish from the PLNT Burger Menu. This promotion aims to make sustainable eating accessible to families in the most delicious way possible.   2. Fundraising for Youth Education: Throughout September, PLNT Burger will donate a portion of …

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ProVeg NFH fast food

Image courtesy of Proveg International

What Role do Fast Food Restaurants Play in Normalising Sustainable, Plant-Based Foods?

Fast-food restaurants are more than just places to grab a quick bite. For many, they offer convenience, as well as a place to socialise over an affordable meal. Undeniably, fast food chains are a staple of our global culture. Increasingly, plant-based options have been proliferating across menus of popular fast-food chains worldwide. As such, fast food retailers are a key catalyst to skyrocketing plant-based food sales, as well as normalising veggie options over their meat equivalents. NGO ProVeg International explores this exciting idea in the latest New Food Hub article, following the release of its International Fast Food Ranking Report. Benefits of embracing plant-based normalcy While ProVeg’s article uncovers the financial and business gains that are up for grabs – it moves beyond that to …

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Mr. Charlie's third location in Venice, California

Image credit: Mr. Charlie's IG

Mr. Charlie’s Opens Third Location in California: “Venice Beach Just Got Weirder”

The vegan, sustainability-driven, and community-support fast food brand Mr. Charlie’s, has opened its third restaurant at 1827 Ocean Front Walk, Venice. “Venice Beach just got weirder,” announced the company on Instagram, using sarcasm, which is part of its marketing strategy. Mr. Charlie’s has two other locations, its first store in Los Angeles and its subsequent expansion in San Francisco. After its debut in Los Angeles last year, Mr. Charlie’s became a viral sensation, with people celebrating its vegan options, including Frowny Meal, Not a Hamburger, and Not Chicken Nuggets. Within months of opening, Mr. Charlie’s reported receiving a positive response from social media, especially from the singer Lizzo who promoted the joint to her fans on social media. At the beginning of this year, the brand …

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Slutty Vegan Burger Menu

©Slutty Vegan

Slutty Vegan Marks Fifth Anniversary with News of an Impressive 13th Location

Slutty Vegan, one of the fastest-growing vegan fast food chains in North America, celebrates its fifth anniversary with an expansion of its burger empire: a 13th restaurant location at Spelman College in Atlanta.  According to Pinky Cole, the unstoppable entrepreneur behind Slutty Vegan, the new restaurant will open during the upcoming fall semester. It will serve the all-women’s campus and students from neighboring institutions.   After the opening of the chain’s Georgia Tech (Georgia Institute of Technology) restaurant, this expansion marks Slutty Vegan’s second location on a college campus. The brand has additional stores throughout the US, including Georgia, Alabama, New York, and Texas.  #1 Vegan Burger Founded in 2018, Slutty Vegan has gained fame for its indulgent burgers and sandwiches, drawing in massive crowds and …

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Burger King Costa Rica

©Burger King

Global Fast Food Chains Become Increasingly Plant-Friendly, Normalizing Sustainable Food

A report by ProVeg has found that the five leading global fast food chains — McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut, and KFC — are increasingly offering a range of plant-based options. The research looked at the plant-based dishes offered by the chains in Belgium, Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the US. The chains were then ranked based on these findings, with main meals, sides, and desserts all taken into account. Burger King tops the list Burger King topped the list due to its wide range of animal-free main dishes. Yesterday (August 8) marked four years since the chain’s Impossible Whopper rolled out across the US; since then, plant-based Whoppers have become widely available in numerous countries, along with …

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