Burger King has introduced a range of vegan meat alternatives in Africa – the first fast-food restaurant in the continent to offer V-Label accredited plant-based meats.
Burger King South Africa has put a 100% plant-based Whopper, Vegan Royale and Vegan Nuggets onto its South African menus, in a collaboration with The Vegetarian Butcher, in a bid ‘to become the global leader in plant-based alternatives in the quick-service restaurant space’.
“Our aim is to offer vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based alternatives that do not compromise on flavour or price,” says Juan Klopper, COO, Burger King South Africa. “Why should it? By working with The Vegetarian Butcher and V-Label, we know we can create the industry’s leading vegan and vegetarian recipes to truly bring BK to you Your Way.”
According to ProVeg South Africa, until now there had been a lack of ‘quality offerings’ and no internationally recognized vegan accreditation for local companies. However, the BK launch coincided with the introduction of the V-Label accreditation programme in South Africa.
“The V-Label symbol is going to increase awareness of veganism, and make it easier for consumers to identify vegan options and trust that they are truly vegan,” comments Donovan Will, director of ProVeg South Africa (which administers V-Label locally). “And I think a lot of people still view vegan options as products only for vegans and vegetarians, and assume that there will be a taste sacrifice, but Burger King’s new products are so similar to their existing products that consumers who try them won’t even know the difference, even though they’re healthier and more sustainable.”
