Impossible Whopper to expand

BK says plant-based burger selling well.

Burger King’s Impossible Whopper soon won’t be quite so impossible to find.

Four weeks after starting a pilot in St. Louis for the plant-based burger, the fast food chain announced Monday it intends “to quickly test in additional markets with the intention of nationwide distribution by end of year.”

“The Impossible Whopper test in St. Louis went exceedingly well and as a result there are plans to extend testing into additional markets in the very near future,” the company said in a statement. “Burger King restaurants in St. Louis are showing encouraging results and Impossible Whopper sales are complementing traditional Whopper purchases.”

The additional test markets and timeline were not immediately available, but the plant-based Whopper developed by Silicon Valley-based Impossible Foods continues to be available at 59 Burger King restaurants in and around St. Louis.

Growing options

Burger King isn’t alone in adding vegan and meatless options. QDOBA Mexican Eats is adding plantbased Impossible to its more than 730 restaurants nationwide aftera successful test in Michigan.

Last week, the San Diego-based chain started rolling out the plant-based protein at select restaurants in Brooklyn, New York; Denver; and Los Angeles, and it will be available at all locations by May 28.

Del Taco launched its new Beyond Taco and Beyond Avocado Taco April 25, which include a special Beyond Meat protein and the restaurant’s signature seasoning.

Fast-casual pizza chains have been adding toppings in addition to offering vegan cheese.

Blaze Pizza added a vegan Spicy Chorizo topping at its 300-plus restaurants April 16, and in February, Pieology Pizzeria added three Premium Plant Proteins made from soy and pea proteins to its 140 locations. Pieology’s toppings are “Spicy Italian Sausage Rounds,” “Beef Meatballs” and “Diced Chicken.”

But count Pizza Hut out. “We have no plans at this time to carry vegan cheese at our US locations,” Pizza Hut said in a statement to USA TODAY.