Chilean startup NotCo has announced this Wednesday, 26, the launch of a vegetarian version of Burger King‘s famous Whopper hamburger, called Rebel Whopper. The partnership among the foodtech and the American fast-food chain enabled the development of a hamburger with 100% vegetable meat, with flavor, texture and all the qualities expected in a traditional Whopper, making it hard to distinguish the two versions. The information is from NotCo’s official press release.
“This innovation was not only the logical step on our menu for Chile, but a latent need for thousands of customers, who prefer not to eat meat. Having a hamburger made 100% from plants allows us not only to satisfy these customers, but to show leadership in the industry with a unique product developed in partnership with a Chilean company of international prestige, which uses cutting-edge technology ”, said Soledad Fantuzzi, manager of Burger King marketing in Chile. This is the first time that Burger King Chile has bet on a national food development company, which operates also in Brazil and Argentina, to launch one of its most symbolic hamburgers.
In Brazil, NotCo intends to launch an alternative to meat still in 2020. Backed by Bezos Expedition fund, from Amazon‘s CEO Jeff Bezos, the foodtech currently offers alternatives to products such as mayonnaise, milk and ice cream in the country. A rising trend worldwide, the market for animal meat alternatives, could reach 10% of the conventional meat market in a span of 10 years, according to a study by Barclays bank.
