While there’s no shortage of medical studies to support the continued need to fight the battle of the bulge, it hasn’t tempered the public’s appetite for traditional all-American fare, even if that usually translates to either deep-fried or processed (or both) fast food menu options.
Yet, in spite of the fact that a health-conscious sector of the community exists, demonstrated by the emergence of Chop’t salad shops and vegan eateries that have cropped up in the past few years, a segment of the population remains that isn’t willing to give up their greasy spoon mainstays.
The proliferation of hamburger joints that visibly outnumber vegetarian/vegan eating establishments, which includes: LT Burger’s first New York site at 40 Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and Five Guys’ 42 Street Times Square locale, bears out this obvious disparity. Every shake Shack location in the NYC area has customers lined up down the block on any given day.
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TV Marketer Tests Viability of Bacon
After he questioned whether a bacon product would have viable consumer marketability, “As Seen on TV” marketer Scott Boilen was able to make the case for the “Bacon bowl” by putting its popularity to the test before deciding to hawk the new cooking ‘gizmo’ through his NY- based company Allstar Products Group.
According to data from CNN’s consumer watchdog media site Market Watch, the infomercial pitchman cites not only did the smoked crisp meat strips top the list of fav foods, he added, “Never underestimate the power of bacon: it’s almost become a cult-like food.”
READ: Delish Reviews the Bacon Bowl
And we New Yorkers are not alone in our penchant for bacon; we’re joined by bacon-lovers across the country, as retail food franchises continue to roll out bacon-inspired foodstuffs. In 2012, Burger King even introduced a bacon sundae!
Additional findings in the report by Information Resources, Inc found data showing “bacon sales in the U.S. have increased in each of the last four years” and “climbed to 9.5 percent” last year.
Even visible health-conscious eater First Lady Michelle Obama was spotted indulging her occasional yen for splurge foods.
The ole-fashioned slider, which has been modified to suit customer fondness for bacon-embellished versions, is a great example with major competing fast food chains McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King leading the way.
McDonald’s menu items that contain bacon include burgers and sandwiches, such as their new Bacon Clubhouse Burger or chicken sandwich version, among others. Wendy’s menu includes the Baconator! And in addition to their specialty sundae, rival Burger King offers similar menu selections that incorporate bacon, like its new BBQ Bacon Whopper.
Without a doubt this evidence proves that bacon, a definite preferred indulgent comfort food that has long ceased to be only a breakfast food item, has apparently gotten popular enough (or always was and we just didn’t notice). In any case, it will most assuredly be around for a long, long time.
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