As a lot of restaurateurs know, one of the toughest area's of the plant-based realm to conquer has traditionally been with a chicken-taste-alike protein. Today, Beyond Meat launched a player in the coveted plant-based "chicken" tender category that it said in a news release is already appearing on restaurant menus nationally.

Beyond Chicken Tenders are, according to the release, the result of nearly a decade of research and development with the company's 200-member culinary team. The result, according to the company, is a tender that in taste tests has proven to score "comparably in overall flavor to animal-based chicken tenders."

And the demand for those bird-based chunks of chicken meat has skyrocketed along with the nation's passion for poultry, leading to shortages amid soaring consumer demand as the restrictions of the pandemic help restaurants get back to full business. The resulting tenders are packed with protein, but contain 40% less saturated fat than the leading player in the traditional chicken tender market, the release said. That is, in part, because these tenders are crafted with plant-based ingredients like faba beans and peas, though they contain GMOs, antibiotics or hormones, and have no cholesterol.

Consumers can start looking for the new tenders in nearly 400 restaurants nationally, including:

  • Toppers Pizza.
  • Sarpino's Pizza.
  • Romeo's Pizza.
  • Plant-based Pizzeria.
  • Nuno's Tacos & Vegmex Grill.
  • Next Level Burger/Next Level Clucker.
  • Flyrite Chicken.
  • Bad Mutha Clucka.

This is, of course, not Beyond Meat's first foray into plant-based fowl, but builds on the success of the company's first such product released in 2012.

"We're innovating the poultry market with the new Beyond Chicken Tenders—the result of our tireless pursuit for excellence and growth at Beyond Meat," Dariush Ajami, Beyond Meat chief innovation officer, said in the release. "As with all our products, Beyond Chicken Tenders offer delicious taste and an exceptional culinary experience, along with strong nutritional benefits. Innovation is at the heart of Beyond Meat, and Beyond Chicken Tenders are the latest example of our mission to create groundbreaking, tasty options that are better for people and for our planet."

Beyond Meat supplies its products to approximately 39,000 foodservice locations throughout the United States.

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