At least two Richmond restaurants will be offering the vegan Beyond Burger this summer.
Steveston Built Taphouse, a new restaurant that opened on No. 1 Road and Bayview Street in May, is offering the Beyond Burger and side for $16.
Meanwhile, A&W Canada, which has three standalone restaurants and three food court stalls in Richmond, announced Thursday it too would be offering the red, juicy vegan burger that has created a buzz across America thanks to its Hollywood endorsements, such as Leonardo DiCaprio.
It is endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, which is also an investor.
"We are a burger loving company with a lot of firsts, but this is the fastest new-product launch in our history," said Susan Senecal, A&W Canada's President and Chief Executive Officer, via a statement.
"When we tried the Beyond Meat Burger we were amazed with how great it tasted and knew we had to be the first national burger chain to bring it to Canadians across the country," said Senecal.
The burger and will feature a classic build of lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayo. The 100 per cent plant-based burger patty is made from protein-rich pulse crops, like peas, and mung beans. Beet juice gives it a red, meat-like colour.
"Our partnership with the iconic A&W brand is a tremendous step forward for Beyond Meat and, correspondingly, consumers who are seeking broader access to healthy and sustainable options for the center of the plate," said Ethan Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Meat.
"We recognize in A&W a shared commitment to innovation and delighting the customer, and are pleased to together introduce the Beyond Burger to the Canadian market."
Vegetarian, or plant-based diets, are on the rise due to a number of factors, such as animal rights and health and enviornmental considerations.
According to Top Trends in Prepared Foods 2017, "consumers' diets are diverse, and while most claim not to follow a specific diet, there is a gradual shift occurring in response to health trends. Interestingly, 44 per cent of consumers in Germany follow a low-meat diet, which is a significant increase from 2014 (26 per cent). Similarly, 6 per cent of US consumers now claim to be vegan, up from just 1 per cent in 2014."
