10,000 People Demand Vegan Beyond Meat Burgers at Hardee’s

Thousands of people are urging fast-food chain Hardee’s to follow in the footsteps of similar brand Carl’s Jr. by adding a vegan Beyond Burger to its menu. Wisconsin resident Alishia Vavilakolanu launched a petition on Change.org last week, garnering nearly 10,000 signatures in less than 24 hours, to urge the chain to update its menu. “I, like many other college students, often find myself looking for a quick meal on the go,” Vavilakolanu wrote. “I often pass by Hardee’s but this establishment does not offer food options that are accessible for me.” In January, Carl’s Jr.—a company with close ties to Hardee’s—added the Beyond Famous Star (made vegan by omitting mayonnaise and cheese) to its more than 1,000 locations, which are primarily concentrated on the West Coast. Carl’s Jr.’s parent company CKE Restaurants acquired Hardee’s—a South Carolina-based brand—in 1997 with the intent to consolidate the two brands but has since divided them to operate as separate entities. “The [Hardee’s] location I pass by fails to offer healthier options without animal cruelty involved,” Vavilakolanu continued. “If Hardee’s followed Carl’s Jr. in expanding the Beyond Burger to national locations, I would also be able to enjoy what many consumers are demanding in 2019.”