TGI Fridays Joins Meatless Monday Campaign

International chain TGI Fridays partnered this week with the Meatless Mondays campaign to promote its new vegan option, the Beyond Burger. “Appealing to a more food-forward consumer is a key priority for Fridays in 2018,” TGI Fridays executive culinary director David Spirito said. “In answering guests’ demand for nutritional menu items that fit their lifestyle needs, we saw an opportunity to introduce newly expanded options like plant-based protein. With Beyond Burger, diners will have a sensory experience of a traditional burger without sacrificing taste.” The chain first tested the vegan patty at select locations in the Boston area in September and, after a successful trial, expanded the menu option to 465 TGI Fridays locations nationwide this month. Beyond Meat launched the Beyond Sausage—a plant-based copycat of pork sausage—in one Whole Foods Market in Boulder, CO, and plans to expand the distribution of its new product in a similar way to Beyond Burger.