KFC to Test Plant-Based Chicken at Select Stores in China

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Apr 27, 2020, 07:08 ET

SHANGHAI, April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kentucky Fried Chicken ("KFC") China, operated by Yum China Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC) has become one of the first national Western QSR (quick service restaurant) brands to introduce a plant-based meat product to China. For a limited test period between April 28-30, KFC Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets will debut at three participating stores in three Tier 1 cities across China.

A KFC store in Shanghai ready to welcome customers during the test period

During the test period, KFC customers in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen will have the opportunity to sample the new KFC Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets in-store, at a special price of RMB 1.99 for five pieces. Pre-sale coupons are required for participating in the test and over 7,000 were purchased on the KFC APP when available between April 20-23. The enthusiasm of KFC customers for the upcoming test is clear and in Shanghai, pre-sale coupons for the first day sold out within one hour. To convey the plant-based concept of the product, tuning in to vitality and a more sustainable lifestyle, participating stores will be given a green makeover throughout the test period. KFC is inviting customers to share their feedback on the new product in order to optimize flavors and processes and help assess the potential for a larger scale rollout in the future.

"We are committed to embracing innovation and continue to delight and surprise our customers with tasty products," said Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China. "The test of KFC's Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets caters to the growing market in China for delicious alternative meat options on the go. We believe that testing the plant-based chicken concept with one of our most iconic products will take this increasingly popular meatless trend to a new level."

KFC is partnering with Cargill to test KFC Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets in China, benefitting from their global supply chain resources and extensive experience in the field of plant-based meat production. KFC Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets include high-quality protein such as soy, wheat, and special pea, which help create a taste that is as close as possible to real chicken. After being cooked, KFC's famous crispy golden layer is added, perfected for Chinese palates with a small amount of locally sourced water chestnut to make the KFC Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets juicer and more delicious.

Plant-based meat products, using plant protein as the raw material, have become an increasingly popular concept around the world. In August 2019, KFC US attracted wide attention when it became the first national U.S. QSR brand to test plant-based chicken during a limited release at a KFC store in Atlanta. As one of the first Western QSR brands to introduce a plant-based meat product to China, the KFC Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets test builds on Yum China's long track record of innovation, which has included new and exciting menu options across various dayparts and categories. With this test, KFC China joins its global counterpart in helping to popularize meat alternatives.

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About Yum China Holdings, Inc.

Yum China Holdings, Inc. is a licensee of Yum! Brands in mainland China. It has exclusive rights in mainland China to KFC, China's leading quick-service restaurant brand, Pizza Hut, the leading casual dining restaurant brand in China, and Taco Bell, a California-based restaurant chain serving innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China also owns the East Dawning, Little Sheep, Huang Ji Huang, and COFFii & JOY and concepts outright. The Company had 9,200 restaurants in over 1,300 cities at the end of December 2019. Yum China ranked # 362 on the Fortune 500 list for 2019. In 2020, Yum China was named to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and was certified as a Top Employer 2020 in China by the Top Employers Institute, both for the second consecutive year. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com.

SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc.