When it came to what you could expect from a KFC restaurant, the clue used to be in the name. Not any more, as the fast food chain trials a vegan burger in the UK from next week. The company is trumpeting the Imposter as a "triumph of deception... delivering on taste, crunch and succulence". Like the chain's other burgers, it will be coated in Colonel's famous secret recipe. Unlike the rest the recipe will surround a fillet made from Quorn. The the Imposter will be trialled for four weeks from 17 June at restaurants in London, Bristol and Birmingham. A new vegetarian creation is also being introduced from 15 July - the Southern Fritter Stacker, which will be available as a burger, wrap and with rice. Victoria Robertson, chief vegetable enthusiast at KFC UK & Ireland said: "We know… it's unfair. Vegans have been cruelly denied the incredible taste of KFC up to now, which is why we've worked hard to perfect The Imposter - a vegan burger that the Colonel would be proud of." Tony Davison, head of global foodservice & QSR at Quorn said "we couldn't believe it either... but we've done it". He said Quorn has worked with KFC to create a "bespoke Quorn fillet that does the Colonel's recipe justice". PETA's director of vegan projects, Dawn Carr, director of vegan corporate projects at PETA called it "game-changing". "We're confident it will be a huge hit with the skyrocketing numbers of vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians around the UK. Clucking marvellous!" The new products could be a way to keep punters happy if the company is hit by a shortage of chicken again, after supply problems forced stores to close in February last year. Obviously not everyone was happy. One man named Mitch wrote on Twitter: "If you want a vegan burger go to a vegan restaurant and leave KFC alone". While a woman wrote: "Can't wait to see grown men throwing a hissy fit over the new KFC vegan burger." The Imposter, on its own, will cost £2.99 - £3.49 with a drink. The Imposter wrap with a drink is £3.99 and the Imposter salad with a drink is £3.79. Restaurants taking part in the trial are: Bristol - Fishponds Bristol Bradley Stoke Bristol - Winterstoke Road Bristol - Eastgate Retail Park Bristol - Avonmeads Retail Park Bristol - Shield Retail Park Bristol - Keynsham Bristol - Hengrove Leisure Park Bristol - The Venue Cribbs Causeway Birmingham - Great Bridge Retail Pk Bloxwich - Leamore Lane Cannock - Orbital Retail Park Tamworth - Ventura Retail Park Tyburn - Kingsbury Road Walsall - Junction 10 M6 Services Walsall - Park Street Dudley - Merry Hill Food Court Stourbridge - St Johns Road Dudley - Merry Hill Drive Thru London - Gloucester Road
The fast food chain is trialling a vegan burger made from Quorn fillet in the UK. Photograph: Dawn Carr, director of vegan corporate projects at animal rights group PETA, called the product “game-changing”. From 15 July, a new vegetarian product called the Southern Fritter Stacker will also be available at KFC as a burger, wrap or with rice.