Beyond Meat: Dunkin Moves Up Launch Date Of Meatless Breakfast Sandwich

The success of coffee-doughnut chain Dunkin’s new Beyond Sausage breakfast sandwich in its initial rollout has prompted the company to change its full-release plans. Originally scheduled for January, the plant-based meat sandwich will now launch nationwide on Nov. 6.

Dunkin began selling the meatless sandwich at New York City locations in July. According to CNBC, the sandwich – it has a plant-based sausage patty substitute produced by Beyond Meat, as well as an egg white and cheese – became the second best-selling sandwich at the company’s Manhattan stores. Actual sales doubled Dunkin’s projections and lagged only behind the bacon, egg and cheese bagel. Customers were also buying the sandwich at all hours of the day, not just at breakfast.

“We are extremely proud of our partnership with Beyond Meat and thrilled to be the first U.S. quick service restaurant to offer Beyond Breakfast Sausage nationwide,” Dunkin CEO David Hoffman said in a statement. “Dunkin’ is the brand that democratizes trends for America, and this latest addition to our menu gives consumers more choice to meet their evolving needs. The introduction of a plant-based option at our shops in Manhattan exceeded our expectations, exciting loyal fans and new customers alike.”

The product is intended to be a permanent menu item at roughly 9,000 locations across the country. It will be Beyond’s first nationwide rollout at a fast-food chain. Beyond CEO and founder Ethan Brown claimed in a statement that the company’s plant-based patty has fewer calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium than traditional pork-based patties, while also boasting more protein and iron.

Nationwide releases have not always worked out as well as limited releases. In September, Canadian chain Tim Horton’s pulled Beyond Meat products from stores in all provinces except Ontario and British Columbia.