“We’ve been carefully tracking the plant-based trend and exploring the best, most craveable way to introduce it to Wendy’s fans.”

Today, Wendy’s launches its Spicy Black Bean Burger. The move is in part of it wanting to increase plant-based meat items on its menus.

The limited-edition burger joins Wendy’s “Made to Crave” menu and will be available while supplies last in three test markets: Columbus, OH, Jacksonville, FL, and Pittsburgh, PA.

It features a plant-based black bean patty made with a blend of spices. The burger comes layered with tomatoes, onion slices, romaine lettuce, chipotle jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and a spicy chipotle sauce.

However, the fast-food chain is not claiming that the burger can be ordered vegan due to the possibility of cross-contamination during preparation. It also uses a dairy-based cheese on the burger unless customers request to omit these items.

‘Culinary opportunity’

“Demand for plant-based proteins has exploded during the past 10 years,” a spokesperson for Wendy’s told VegNews.

“As a company striving to meet our fans where they are and deliver incredible taste and flavor, we identified a culinary opportunity to craft a plant-based protein in a uniquely Wendy’s way.

“Guided by our food vision, Fast Food Done Right, we’ve been carefully tracking the plant-based trend and exploring the best, most craveable way to introduce it to Wendy’s fans.”

Spicy Black Bean Burger

The black bean patty burger is not entirely new to Wendy’s. It first introduced the Black Bean Burger to a select number of test locations in Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah way back in 2015.

It was discontinued in 2017, and the company that has been lagging in the plant-based burger game seems to be ready after using “insights gathered from team members and customers to innovate on the sandwich build and bring forward a craveable, mouth-watering bite with mind-blowing flavors.”

John Li is the Vice President of Culinary Innovation for The Wendy’s Company. He added: “The Spicy Black Bean Burger is a culinary creation that turns the notion of a tasteless, texture-lacking black bean patty on its head by bringing our iconic spice as only Wendy’s can.”

To promote the new burger, Wendy’s is offering a medium order of French fries and free delivery to customers who order the Spicy Black Bean Burger using the Wendy’s app until 1st July.

• Read: Taco Bell is testing a vegan chalupa shell to cater to the ‘veggie-curious’

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