Bacon Craze in Full Effect

Taking bacon to a whole new level! Enjoy a delicious bacon sundae from Burger King! Hurry, as this item is only available until the end of summer!

Looking for something with extra calories? Why not try the savory bacon milkshake from Jack in the Box for a limited time only?

Who is anxious to try one of these tasty treats? Or, who feels that adding bacon to a beverage and dessert item is a bit extreme? It is the battle of the bacon craze between two fast food giants, Burger King and Jack in the Box!

An idea that is simple and unexpected can be one of the most effective ways to attract a new audience or engage current customers (Heath & Heath, 1997). What are the reasons behind the bacon craze? The concept is simple; add bacon to an item already on the menu and market the creation as a new invention. The concept is unexpected; or is it? It is not uncommon to hear about bacon as an “ingredient of choice” for cookies, brownies, and other sugary foods.

Why the sudden interest in advertising a food that exceeds the daily caloric intake (or close to it), when both fast food chains have made a valiant effort to add healthy items to their menu? Maybe offering unhealthy and unique foods will increase profits more than nutritional products. However, do customers go to fast food chains for healthy food? Regardless of the reasons for joining the bacon craze, Burger King and Jack in the Box have successfully grabbed people’s attention!

In an effort to revive its menu, Burger King launched a series of healthy items earlier this year to target a broader audience (Associated Press, 2012). It has continued to change things up by rolling out its summer menu, which features mouthwatering barbeque items and, you guessed it; the bacon sundae! Just what is a bacon sundae? “The bacon sundae will come with soft-serve ice cream, fudge, caramel and a piece of bacon.” (HSU, 2012). Will this sundae be able to compete with the bacon milkshake from Jack in the Box?

Jack in the Box has introduced a “1,081-calorie bacon milkshake” – “made with no actual bacon, just real vanilla ice cream, bacon-flavored syrup, whipped topping and a maraschino cherry.” (Stein, 2012). Customers have the option of purchasing a 16 ounce milkshake with fewer calories if a 24 ounce shake is too much to handle. Do not be surprised if your local Jack in the Box is not advertising the bacon milkshake on its menu. As part of the “Love Bacon? Marry It” campaign, the milkshake is a “secret item” that can be requested for a limited time (Kindelan, 2012).

For all you bacon connoisseurs out there, what are your thoughts; bacon sundae or bacon milkshake? Customers who have indulged in these creations, what is your opinion? Is the bacon craze here to stay?

Sources

Associated Press. (2012, June 12). Burger King bets on bacon sundae for summertime. Businessweek.
Retrieved June 15, 2012, from http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-06/D9VBOOK04.htm

Heath, C., & Heath, D. (1997). Made to stick: Why some ideas survive and others die. New York, NY: Random House.

Hsu, T. (2012, June 12). Bacon sundae and sweet potato fries at Burger King? Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 15, 2012, from
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-bacon-sundae-sweet-potato-fries-burger-king-20120612,0,7340641.story

Kindelan, K. (2012, February 7). Jack in the Box debuts bacon milkshake. ABC News.
Retrieved June 15, 2012, from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/02/jack-in-the-box-debuts-bacon-milkshake/

Stein, J. (2012, February 8). Are you ready for the 1,081-calorie bacon milkshake? Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 15, 2012, from
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/08/news/la-heb-bacon-milkshake-jack-in-the-box-20120208

Burger King – Bacon Sundae image: http://firewireblog.com/2012/04/11/burger-king-testing-bacon-sundaes/
Jack in the Box – Bacon Milkshake image: http://www.bestweekever.tv/2012-02-03/want-jack-in-the-box-bacon-milkshake/
Bacon cookies image: http://www.sogoodblog.com/2007/12/29/can-i-add-bacon-to-my-dessert/
Bacon fudge image: http://www.savvyhousekeeping.com/bacon-desserts/