Pizza Hut’s new Beyond Pepperoni pizza will first be available in 70 outlets across five cities in the US.

Pizza Hut has launched a plant-based version of its top-selling pizza topping – pepperoni – in the US market for a limited time.

The quick-service restaurant teamed up with Beyond Meat for its newest offering.

According to Pizza Hut, the new ‘Beyond Pepperoni’ pizza offers the same taste and texture as the classic pepperoni.

It is made with peas and rice with added spice for flavour and is free of soy, gluten, GMO, hormones, antibiotics and cholesterol. However, the pizza contains dairy cheese and as such is not suitable for vegan customers

70 Pizza Hut locations in five cities of Albany, New York; Columbus and Macon, Georgia; Houston, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida will stock the new pizza while supplies last.

‘Game-changing plant-based pepperoni’

Georgeanne Erickson, Chief Brand Officer, Pizza Hut said: “Pizza Hut’s new Beyond Pepperoni Pizza delivers the same iconic taste as our original pepperoni that fans know and love.

“With this new plant-based option, we’re giving customers more choices and more reasons to love Pizza Hut.”

Moreover, Dariush Ajami, Chief Innovation Officer, Beyond Meat added: “We know there is strong consumer demand for pepperoni, and we’re thrilled to unveil a game-changing plant-based pepperoni topping as the next chapter in our innovation-focused partnership with Pizza Hut.

“We’re confident fans will love Beyond Pepperoni as it delivers the crisped edges and savoury flavour profile of Pizza Hut’s classic pepperoni with the added benefits of plant-based meat.” 

Beyond Meat X Yum!

The new plant-based pepperoni launch is part of Beyond Meat’s strategic expansion with Yum! Brands, the parent company of fast-food giants Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell.

The companies have struck a deal to co-create and roll out innovative alt-protein menu items over the next several years.

Last year, Pizza Hut unveiled two limited-edition pies – the Beyond Italian Sausage Pizza and the Great Beyond Pizza – featuring Beyond’s plant-based toppings in US and UK outlets. However, similar to Beyond Pepperoni, the pizza contains dairy cheese and Pizza Hut has not announced whether alternatives will be available.

Last month, Pizza Hut UK launched three plant-based Beyond Meat toppings and a mouthwatering side to menus across its Delivery Hut locations nationwide.

The options included: Beyond Italian Style Sausage Supreme, Beyond Three-Meat Three Cheese, Beyond Beef Sizzler and Beyond Italian Style Sausage Tear & Share Topper.

Meanwhile, KFC, after trialling Beyond Fried Chicken at one Atlanta location in 2019 rolled it out to additional locations in 2020. However, the chain has yet to disclose details of Beyond Fried Chicken’s nationwide launch.

According to reports, Beyond Meat and Taco Bell are also working on a never-before-seen vegan meat option that will be launched soon.

• Read: Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown backs tax on meat consumption

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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