- The new burgers will be introduced in China, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
- The Plant-based Whopper burger is likely to be priced similarly to its beef counterparts.
London-based multinational consumer goods company Unilever plc has reportedly extended its partnership with American fast-food chain Burger King to introduce Plant-based Whopper burgers in China, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
The deal is an extension of Dove soap to Hellmann’s mayonnaise maker joint venture with Burger King which had initially launched the Rebel Whopper burger in Europe last year, cited sources with relevant information. The new product will be made using meat-free patties which will be supplied by Unilever-acquired Vegetarian Butcher.
According to Unilever, the Plant-based Whopper will be available in over 325 Burger King outlets in Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing, with additional plans to expand across China in the second quarter of 2021.
It is to be noted that Burger King already sells various meat-free versions of its Whopper burger in the United States. The apparent burger, which is reportedly made using onion, herbs, vegetable oil, wheat, and soy was launched in Mexico in November this year.
In this context, Unilever claimed that the meat-free burger launches in Caribbean and Latin American markets such as Saint Kitts, Saint Maarten, Suriname, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Colombia, and Costa Rica have been taking place since the past couple of weeks.
The Plant-based Whopper is likely to be priced similarly to its beef counterparts, although the prices could vary between franchises. The recent development reflects on Unilever’s efforts to expand its reach in the flourishing plant-based food vertical, which has been witnessing rapid expansion since the COVID-19 pandemic, sources claimed.
If market speculations are right, the alternative meat industry is expected to reach a valuation of USD 140 billion by 2030.
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