Taco Bell is getting into the plant-based meat market. The company says it’s testing a proprietary product in the market around Birmingham, Alabama.
The Wall Street Journal says the company has been working on the soy and pea-based product for three years. It’s debuting in a Crispy Melt Taco that’s made with a white corn shell tortilla. Taco Bell’s Chief Innovation Officer Liz Matthews says the product will cost $2.49 and that price affordability was critical to an accurate market test. The cost has been a challenge in testing other plant-based products as they typically cost 40 percent more than animal-based products.
“It was important not to have an upcharge,” Matthews says. “We wanted to ensure that this product is as affordable and accessible as our seasoned beef.” The company wanted to get the taste and consistency right so that customers couldn’t tell the difference between the plant-based and animal-based offerings.
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