Nestlé is rolling out a vegan KitKat this year, but not in the US

The plant-based movement has found a new partner: the KitKat. 

Nestlé confirmed it will roll out a vegan version of its popular chocolate treat later this year in "several countries across the globe." 

The food and beverage giant said KitKat V will be available only online through the KitKat Chocolatory and selected retailers to test an expanded rollout.

Nestlé said the product will not be available this year in the U.S., where KitKat is produced by Hershey's as part of a licensing agreement.

The vegan treat was created at the company's confectionery research and development center in York, U.K., the original home of the KitKat. The vegan KitKat uses a rice-based ingredient instead of milk.

"Taste was a key factor when developing the plant-based chocolate for our new vegan KitKat," Louise Barrett, head of the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Center, said in a statement. "We used our expertise in ingredients, together with a test and learn approach, to create a delicious vegan alternative to our original chocolate KitKat."

The new KitKat reflects a growing popularity in plant-based foods, highlighted by the rising interest in products such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. 

Can I deduct this chair? Here’s what working from home means for your tax returns

National Pancake Dday:IHOP cancels event, but will still give away free pancakes

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.