The San Diego-headquartered Jack in the Box quick service restaurant chain has debuted Jack’s Unchicken and Jack’s Spicy Unchicken sandwiches at outlets in Monterey and Salinas, California, and Reno, Nevada. Featuring Raised & Rooted brand alternative protein produced by Tyson Foods, they are being promoted as the first-ever plant-based “unchicken” sandwiches introduced by a QSR operator in North America.
Made from pea protein isolate and Jack in the Box’s traditional crispy breading, the Unchicken sandwiches boast the taste, crunch and texture of real chicken. They are available in two varieties, regular and spicy, and are being offered a la carte and as a combo option.
“We are delivering industry-leading innovation with the first plant-based chicken sandwich in the United States,” said Jennifer Kennedy, chief product officer at Jack in the Box. “We are excited to meet the growing demand for meatless alternatives with our new Unchicken sandwiches providing indulgent taste, crispy crunch, and savory flavor in a new plant-based option.”
Chicken sandwiches consistently top the list of most ordered delivery items, and during the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, “chicken” has reportedly been the most tweeted about food. Though not containing any chicken itself, the hardy appetite for chicken sandwiches among consumers, combined with a continued interest and increase in plant-based food consumption, makes the first-to-market Jack’s Unchicken sandwiches a timely addition to menus for meat and plant eaters alike.
“We believe this is the best tasting plant-based product in the market today,” said David Ervin, vice president of marketing for the Raised & Rooted brand. “We are excited to be partnering with Jack in the Box to bring the delicious taste people have come to love from our plant-based Nuggets and Tenders, to even more people with the Unchicken sandwiches.”
To celebrate the launch of the Unchicken sandwiches, Jack in the Box will be giving away chicken-scented face masks to customers that visit jackinthebox.com/chickenscentedfacemask on October 23 for a limited time.
Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, operates 2,220 restaurants in 21 states. Founded in 1951 and regarded as a pioneer of the all-day breakfast, the QSR prides itself on “being the curly fry in a world of regular fries.”
The Raised & Rooted brand was created by Tyson Foods to bring the power of plant protein to mainstream markets. Its frozen and fresh faux meat alternatives are sold at more than 10,000 retail stores and online throughout the USA.
