Food & Beverage

Plants dig deeper at McDonald's, Pizza Hut

McDonald's and Pizza Hut are embracing plant-based menu items.

Image: McDonald's.

November 10, 2020

After several years of growth, quick-service plant-based options officially made it to the top this week as both McDonald's and Pizza Hut announced major new menu items centered on fruits of the earth.

McDonald's said the McPlant is in the works but did not specify the time-frame. A company spokeswoman told QSRweb via email that it will happen "when the customer demand is there." The initiative was first announced publicly in a blog post Monday on its corporate website detailing some of the coming initiatives under its Accelerating the Arches program.

The company said that by using learnings from the launch of its first plant-based burger, the P.L.T., in September 2019, in select Canadian restaurants, it worked with an outside supplier to develop the McPlant, which can be extended beyond just burgers.

"In the future, McPlant could extend across a line of plant-based products including burgers, chicken-substitutes and breakfast sandwiches," Ian Borden, McDonald's president, International, said in Monday's post-financial report meeting with investors. "And, we expect some markets will test the burger next year. We are excited about the opportunity because we believe we have a proven, delicious-tasting product. When customers are ready for it, we are ready for them."

Many other QSRs have already launched plant-based menu items. Those include White Castle, Burger King, and KFC.

In Monday's blog, McDonald's said McPlant will initially appear in a "juicy, plant-based patty … on a warm, sesame seed bun."

"McDonald's McPlant line has major implications for the fast food and plant-based food industries," Alex Jarman, Euromonitor research analyst, said in an email to this website. "In recent years, chains such as Burger King and White Castle gained a competitive advantage against McDonald's by introducing plant-based options on their menus.

"Vegan and vegetarian consumers may have avoided McDonald's in favor of chains with these options. The McPlant line could lure these customers back to McDonald's in addition to the growing number of consumers who occasionally incorporate plant-based foods into their diet. … McDonald's decision to create its own plant-based line raises the question if other fast food chains will eventually do the same."

Pizza Hut puts down roots, too

Photo provided

The plant-based panacea doesn't stop in burgerland. Pizza Hut said Tuesday that it was making its Beyond Pan Pizzas available nationally, as the result of a collaboration with plant-based provider, Beyond Meat, according to a news release.

The Beyond Italian Sausage and Great Beyond pizzas are available now and essentially use a plant-based version of the company's Italian pork sausage as toppings.

The plant-based sausage pie features tomato sauce, mozzarella and Beyond Italian sausage crumbles, while the Great Beyond pizza has all those ingredients along with chopped tomatoes, red onions and banana peppers.

"I'd challenge anyone to go try the new Beyond Pan Pizza and tell the difference," Pizza Hut Chief Brand Officer David Graves said in the release. "I shared it with friends and family, and they couldn't."

The plant-based pie additions are available with original pan, stuffed, hand-tossed and Thin 'N Crispy crusts as LTOs, while supplies last. The pies will also be available at London stores in the U.K.