KFC has confirmed that a new vegan-friendly burger is launching this week.

On Monday, the fast food chain announced that it is introducing the KFC Vegan Burger as a permanent offering, which will be available to purchase for £3.99 in KFC restaurants nationwide from 2 January.

According to KFC, the Vegan Burger pays meat-free homage to the Chicken Fillet Burger, with the plant-based version replacing chicken breast fillet with a bespoke Quorn fillet, which is coated in the Colonel’s iconic Original Recipe herbs and spices.

The burger is served with vegan mayonnaise and crisp iceberg lettuce, all within a soft-glazed bun.

Ira Dubinsky,innovation director at KFC UK and Ireland said: “The Colonel was all about welcoming everyone to his table – now vegans, flexitarians and our fried chicken fans can all enjoy the taste of our Original Recipe together.

“We’ve worked hard to perfect the flavour and make a Vegan Burger the Colonel would be proud of. It’s the flavour of KFC, just with zero chicken. ”

Tony Davison, head of global foodservice & QSR at Quorn, added: “The chance to co-create exceptional food with an iconic brand like KFC is a pleasure, to see the results launched with such enthusiasm is fantastic.

“The result does the Colonel’s recipe justice, truly transformational vegan food that KFC fans are going to love – a finger lickin’ vegan favourite.”

The announcement comes just days after Vegan Food UK – an online organisation that shares vegan food news on social media – posted a photograph of a billboard advertising the new Vegan Burger.

“The Zero Chicken Burger to launch in January at KFC!!!” the caption of the image read.

“Now we finally know what is coming to KFC for #veganuary.

“We also hear they are setting up vegan specific areas in their prep areas to save any mix up – let’s hope so!”

The post garnered more than 3,000 likes and received a number of comments from excited social media users.

“We can finally have a KFC,” one person wrote.

“I can’t wait until this is here,” another remarked.

KFC escalated rumours surrounding the launch on Saturday by confirming on Twitter that a new mystery burger would be arriving in stores on 2 January.

“New burger who dis? Coming 2nd January 2020,” KFC wrote.

When asked by a user if the launch will be a vegan burger, KFC replied with a GIF that read “I ain’t sayin’ nothin’.”

In June 2019, KFC trialled a plant-based burger across selected restaurants in the UK.

“The Imposter” burger was made from a Quorn fillet, and served in a soft glazed bun with fresh iceberg lettuce and vegan mayonnaise.

While the burger was expected to be available over a four-week period, the fast food chain announced that it officially sold out of the food option in just four days.

According to KFC, the company also found sales of the burger to be 500 per cent higher than that of a normal burger.

At the time, Victoria Robertson, chief vegetable enthusiast at KFC UK and Ireland, said it was “unfair” vegans had been “denied the incredible taste of KFC up to now”.