Burger King will launch new vegan and vegetarian dishes including a plant-based version of its chicken ‘Royale’ burger in the coming weeks, as part of the fast food chain’s long-term strategy to curb its carbon footprint by selling less beef.
Burger King UK launched a plant-based ‘Rebel Whopper’ burger last January but was forced to axe it from its menu during the pandemic because of social distancing restrictions in its kitchens.
The chain’s UK CEO Alasdair Murdoch told i a new plant-based Whopper would appear on menus in the coming weeks as restrictions lift, alongside a plant-based ‘Royale’ burger. Meat-free nuggets are also in the pipeline, he added.
Burger King came under fire last year over adverts suggesting its Rebel Whopper was suitable for vegans, when it contained egg-based mayonnaise and was cooked alongside meat burgers. The new plant-based Whopper will be suitable for vegans, Mr Murdoch confirmed.
Burger King made its name in the UK selling beef burgers. But as it adds more meat-free dishes to its menu, some of its meat products will be dropped, Mr Murdoch admitted. “When we bring in a plant-based product… there is probably an equal and opposite reaction where we are taking something else off,” he said. “Are there going to be less meat products? Ultimately, you would say yes.”
Within a decade, up to 50 per cent of Burger King UK’s menu could be plant-based, he said. “Over time the amount of beef that we are selling as a proportion of our total sales is reducing,” he said.
The expansion of Burger King’s plant-based range comes in response to a sharp uptick in public demand for vegan and vegetarian food, and a corporate push to burnish the brand’s green credentials. Burger King UK has this week promised to scrap its use of single use plastic by 2025, cut food waste, and source sustainable soy, timber and coffee as part of its new sustainability agenda.
Studies have repeatedly shown that beef has the highest carbon footprint of all foods, even if it is raised in the UK on grass pasture. Scientists have warned a sharp reduction in its consumption will be necessary to meet climate goals.
Burger King UK sources all its beef from the UK and Ireland, and Mr Murdoch insisted the chain would never abandon beef altogether despite its climate impact.
“We know the direction of travel, we are embracing the direction of travel and we are trying to get ahead of it,” he said. “But we are also still very proud of our beef.”
Cultured meat could offer one route forward, allowing restaurants to sell red meat without the associated climate impacts. Investment is pouring into start-ups working on lab-grown burgers and nuggets as they race to scale the technology. But it remains far more expensive than traditionally reared meat.
Mr Murdoch didn’t rule out introducing lab-grown meat on to Burger King’s menus in the future, once costs have fallen and the technology can be scaled. But customers also still need convincing, he warned.
“Our customers, I don’t think they are quite ready for that today,” he said. “It doesn’t mean they won’t ever be in the future, but our sense would be that they aren’t quite there.”
Note: This article was updated on 03/03/2021. Mr Murdoch originally told i the Rebel Whopper would be returning to Burger King UK menus. This was later clarified – in fact a new plant-based Whopper will launch.
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