McDonald’s USA on Nov. 3 will begin testing its McPlant plant-based burger in eight U.S. restaurants while supplies last, the company said Thursday.
The Chicago-based burger giant said the McPlant, already in some markets abroad, will be tested in: the California cities of El Segundo and Manhattan Beach; Cedar Falls, Iowa; the Louisiana communities of Jennings and Lake Charles; and the Texas cities of Irving and Carrollton.
The company noted that the prices will be on par with McDonald’s classic burgers like the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder, but they may vary by region.
The McPlant employs a plant-based patty developed with Beyond Meat Inc., and it is exclusive to McDonald’s. Ingredients include peas, rice and potatoes. The patty is served on a sesame seed bun with tomato, lettuce, pickles, onions, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and a slice of American cheese.
The company did note that the patty is cooked on the same grill as meat-based products and eggs.
“The McPlant has also been introduced in various markets overseas this year, including Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria and most recently the U.K.,” the company said in a press release.
“Just like in the U.S., we often conduct limited-time offers with menu items internationally to help us learn,” the company said.
Competitor Burger King, owned by Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International, has offered the vegan Impossible Whopper since 2019. Carl’s Jr., a division of Franklin, Tenn.-based CKE Restaurants Inc., rolled out a Beyond Meat burger to about 1,100 units in late 2018.
McDonald’s USA LLC has nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants in the United States.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless