Burger King, Del Taco, McDonalds—they've all bought into the plant-based food craze, whether it be adopting trendy meat alternatives on a permanent basis or testing as part of a trial run. And now Chick-fil-A may join the ranks.
According to Business Insider, the controversial food chain is in the "early stages" of developing its own plant-based menu offerings. And the non-stop buzz surrounding its competitors is likely to blame. "We're definitely aware, and I would say we're always interested in, what's happening in food," the executive director of Chick-fil-A's menu, Amanda Norris, told the outlet. "Specifically...a vegetarian option or a vegan option is something we're looking at, we're thinking about, and have some [research and development."
So Impossible or Beyond Meat Chick-fil-A nugs may not be in our immediate future, but at least they're on the right track. The brand's current vegan and vegetarian options are rather limited: Hash browns, waffle fries, and superfood sides are the only items that don't contain meat. However, you can order a salad or wrap without the chicken.
I'd love to say I'm surprised Chick-fil-A is so behind the times—and not just because of their lack of vegan menu items—but their slogan is "Eat Mor Chicken," not "Eat Less Animal Products." Talk about brand identity.
The company has been exploring meat alternatives for years. However, Norris admits Chick-fil-A does have a slower introduction process than certain competitors. "We've kind of been watching it, and now we are moving more from the watch stage and getting into that understand, or really imagine stage," she added. Per Norris, it takes about 18 to 24 months for a new menu item to hit stores. There are five stages: understand, imagine, prototype, validate, and launch. It looks like we've got a few more steps to go before Chick-fil-A becomes a vegan-friendly spot.
