Move over, Greggs - and start scripting your tantrum now, Piers Morgan.
KFC is developing a vegan 'chicken' burger - and it's 'brilliant', according to a north west restaurateur who was the first to try it today.
Nisha Katona, owner of Indian restaurant group Mowgli, which has sites in Manchester's Corn Exchange and off Oxford Road, visited the fast food chain's development kitchen to taste the new meat-free meal today.
The barrister-turned-chef told her Twitter followers she was on a 'dream job' filming with the BBC's One Show.
She tweeted: "Oh my heaven! On a dream job today - filming for the BBC One Show with exclusive access to the actual KFC headquarters development kitchen. Also I was the first member of the public to taste the new vegan chicken burger. This to me is actually living the dream."
Replying to a follower who asked her how the burger was, she added: "Oh my word - brilliant product - they are still working in [sic] it but truly great start."
KFC first announced its intention to trial vegetarian or vegan alternatives to its fried chicken last May.
It is not yet known what the burger will be made from, but the fast food chain's innovations director Jack Hinchcliffe promised it wouldn't be a bean patty in a recent interview with The Telegraph .
"A bean patty would not cut the mustard as that lets down vegans," he said.
“For us it’s about taking the amazing tastes of KFC and offering those in a vegetarian or vegan alternative.”
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It is not yet known when the product will be added to the menu, but Nisha's tweets indicate that its launch can't be far off.
Until then, vegans can get their fried 'chicken' fix from Manchester restaurants such as V Rev and Firebird Hope at YES.
In less vegan-friendly news and with rather mixed messaging, KFC launches another new burger on bank holiday Monday, the decidedly meaty I Love You Bacon.
The triple-layered tower features a fillet of Original Recipe chicken, two rashers of smoky bacon, creamy baconnaise and 'bacon lovers' relish' (whatever that is) and double cheese, sandwiched inside a brioche bun.
It's available for six weeks only from Monday, May 6, priced at £5.39 on its own or £6.39 as a meal.
Marcus Buck, senior brand manager at KFC, said: “Let’s face it, we’ve timed this burger badly.
"We’re launching the I Love You Bacon Burger in a year when unprecedented numbers of people are eschewing meat and embracing the aubergine.
"But for those bacon lovers that remain, this one’s for you. It’s so irresistibly tasty – try one before you turn vegan.”
That ought to appease Piers...
