KFC to sell Cargill’s plant-based fried chicken in China

The move comes amid growing global interest in China’s meat substitute industry

Yum China’s KFC fast food chain will sell plant-based fried chicken for the first time in China over a limited time period.

The nuggets will be supplied by U.S. agribusiness Cargill Ltd and will be sold at only three outlets in China in Shanghai and the southern cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen till end of April.

The move comes amid growing global interest in China’s meat substitute industry, which has been identified by both U.S. players Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat as a key target market. The coronavirus outbreak is also threatening China’s poultry production.

Yum Brands Inc’s KFC started offering plant-based fried chicken supplied by Beyond Meat in the United States at one of its Atlanta outlets.