McDonald’s unveils its own McPlant meatless burger, a year after the Beyond Meat test

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Big Mac or McPlant, these will soon be the two options McDonald’s (MCD) consumers will have for their last high calorie fast food dinner.

The Golden Arches said Monday they have come up with an herbal pancake they would call McPlant. A McDonald’s spokesperson told Yahoo Finance that McPlant will be piloted in 2021 market by market.

“As we strive to better understand customer demand, some markets around the world have tested herbal products. Based on these learnings, we’ve created a delicious burger that will be the first menu option in a plant-based platform we call McPlant. McPlant is designed exclusively for McDonald’s, by McDonald’s, ”McDonald’s International President Ian Borden said in a statement.

Borden continued, “In the future, McPlant may expand into a line of plant-based products, including burgers, chicken substitutes and breakfast sandwiches. And we expect some markets to test the burger next year. We are excited about this opportunity because we believe we have a proven product that tastes great. When customers are ready, we are ready for them. “

News from McPlant sent Beyond Meat (BYND) shares plunging nearly 10% early Monday morning in trading. Stocks reversed their losses in the afternoon as Beyond Meat came out to defend its position. “Beyond Meat and McDonalds have co-created the herbal pancake that will be available as part of their McPlant platform,” a Beyond Meat spokesperson told Yahoo Finance.

Beyond Meat’s actions have long reflected expectations of a nationwide rollout with McDonald’s. Getting into McDonald’s has been a long-term goal for Beyond Meat founder Ethan Brown, according to Yahoo Finance interviews with him this year. So it’s easy to understand the initial market reaction to McDonald’s decision to go it alone on the factory hamburger front.

McDonalds' new plant-based burger PLT is pictured outside one of the company's test sites in London, Ont., September 30, 2019. - The company is testing the new burger at 28 stores across the southern Ontario over the next 12 weeks. (Photo by Geoff Robins / AFP) (Photo credit should read GEOFF ROBINS / AFP via Getty Images)
McDonalds’ new plant-based burger PLT is pictured outside one of the company’s test sites in London, Ont. September 30, 2019. – The company is testing the new burger at 28 stores across the southern Ontario over the next 12 weeks. (Photo by Geoff Robins / AFP) (Photo credit should read GEOFF ROBINS / AFP via Getty Images)

It is not known exactly what is in McDonald’s plant-based patty from an ingredient standpoint. A source says McDonald’s has not announced which vendors it plans to use for the McPlant.

In September 2019, McDonald’s launched Beyond’s PLT burger in southwestern Ontario. That test ended in April and McDonald’s said it would continue to assess its options on the plant-based burger front.

A McDonald’s spokesperson did not return Yahoo Finance’s request to comment on whether Beyond Meat tests were still underway around the world.

Brian Sozzi is an editor and anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn.

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