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Imitation meat brands like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are <a href="https://1851franchise.com/capitalspring/are-plant-based-alternatives-here-to-stay--2710740" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">revolutionizing the quick-service and fast casual restaurant industry</a>. As <a href="https://1851franchise.com/beyond-meat-s-revenue-increases-by-a-whopping-486-in-2019-2710617" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">plant-based options become more popular</a>, QSR and fast casual brands are partnering with the brands in an attempt to appeal to both long-time vegetarians and a younger, more eco-conscious audience.

<a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/menu-innovations/hardees-jumps-plant-based-train?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=there-is-no-slowing-down-the-plant-based-meat-train-hardees-jumps-on-board-2710962" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Hardee&rsquo;s is the newest brand to jump on the Beyond Meat train</a>, taking a page from its sister brand Carl Jr.&rsquo;s playbook and testing two new plant-based menu items due in October.&nbsp;

It looks like Carl&rsquo;s Jr. and Hardee&rsquo;s parent company, CKE Restaurants, is eager to get ahead of the competition. Since Carl&rsquo;s Jr. launched its <a href="https://www.carlsjr.com/beyondburger?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=there-is-no-slowing-down-the-plant-based-meat-train-hardees-jumps-on-board-2710962" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Beyond Famous Star burger</a> nationwide in January to 1,300-plus locations, the <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/beyond-meat-burger-carls-jr-most-successful-launch?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=there-is-no-slowing-down-the-plant-based-meat-train-hardees-jumps-on-board-2710962" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">brand sold more than 4 million Beyond Famous Star burgers</a>. The success of the alternative item led CKE to develop a similar product for Hardee&rsquo;s.&nbsp;

Some other recent examples of plant-based success include <a href="https://1851franchise.com/kfc-and-beyond-meat-test-new-finger-lickin-fake-chicken-2710851" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">KFC becoming the first national quick service restaurant to introduce plant-based chicken</a>, <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/menu-innovations/kfc-sells-out-plant-based-chicken-five-hours?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=there-is-no-slowing-down-the-plant-based-meat-train-hardees-jumps-on-board-2710962" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">selling out in just five hours</a>, and Burger King bringing its <a href="https://1851franchise.com/burger-king-teams-up-with-impossible-foods-for-plant-based-whopper-test-2709586" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Impossible Whopper nationwide</a>, experiencing a 17% increase in visits. <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/exclusives/white-castle-marches-new-territory?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=there-is-no-slowing-down-the-plant-based-meat-train-hardees-jumps-on-board-2710962" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">White Castle&rsquo;s Impossible Slider</a> created a huge level of buzz, while <a href="https://1851franchise.com/taco-bell-announces-expanded-vegetarian-menu-without-plant-based-meats-2710307" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Taco Bell</a>, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/attention-plant-based-restaurants-make-way-for-subway--2710668" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Subway</a>, <a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/dunkin-adds-beyond-meat-breakfast-sandwich-to-menu/559507/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=there-is-no-slowing-down-the-plant-based-meat-train-hardees-jumps-on-board-2710962" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Dunkin&rsquo;</a> and <a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/tim-hortons-fries-up-plant-based-eggs-for-breakfast/559607/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=there-is-no-slowing-down-the-plant-based-meat-train-hardees-jumps-on-board-2710962" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Tim Hortons</a> have all recently added meat-free options to their menus.

Unfortunately, it isn&rsquo;t all coming up roses for these brands&mdash;while the meat alternatives require only a fraction of the resources of real meat, the production process is comparatively expensive and time-consuming. Beyond Meat even <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/27/business/impossible-burgers-beyond-meat/index.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=there-is-no-slowing-down-the-plant-based-meat-train-hardees-jumps-on-board-2710962" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">experienced a shortage of supply earlier this year</a>, resulting in a company-wide scramble to meet the rise in demand.

Still, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/beyond-meat-s-revenue-increases-by-a-whopping-486-in-2019-2710617" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">the plant-based movement can&#39;t be stopped</a>&mdash;with endorsements from huge, A-list celebrities like<a href="https://1851franchise.com/impossible-foods-raises-another-300-mill-ion-with-celebrity-investments-2709945" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"> Katy Perry, Jay-Z and Serena Williams</a> and <a href="https://1851franchise.com/impossible-foods-partners-with-major-meat-processor-to-produce-fake-meat-2710622" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">partnerships with major processors</a>, it appears meatless is just as juicy of an option for franchises as its animal alternative.

There is No Slowing Down the Plant-Based Meat Train; Hardees Jumps On Board

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The burger brand is the latest in a long line of foodservice franchises adding meatless options to their menus. 


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There is No Slowing Down the Plant-Based Meat Train; Hardees Jumps On Board

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