“Vegan McDonald’s” Mr. Royale with Cheese to feature “Rolls Royce” of cheddar alternative

In California, Mr. Charlie’s, a small plant-based fast-food chain colloquially known as the “Vegan McDonalds,” is using dairy-free cultured cheddar cheese from Sweden’s Stockeld Dreamery for its new Mr. Royale with Cheese menu item.

The self-styled “sarcastic disruptor” burger joint chose Stockheld Dreamery cheese because of its excellent melting properties and high protein content.

“I’m always trying to push the boundaries with our menu, so finding a plant-based cheese that actually tastes like cheese, plus one that actually melts, makes this a game changer for us on the kitchen line,” Taylor Mckinnon, co-founder and CMO at Mr. Charlie’s, told vegconomist.  “It’s definitely elevated our menu. It’s the Rolls Royce of guilt-free cheese and my favorite product of ’24 to date.”

Mr. Charlie’s opened its first location in Los Angeles in 2022 and quickly developed a cult following thanks largely to social media. It opened San Francisco and Sydney, Australia in 2023.