Dublin, OH - Whether it's smothered with ketchup, topped with extra pickles, or served just plain, Americans love their hamburgers ... and Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants founder Dave Thomas wants people to share their hamburger passion with him by entering Dave's Search for America's Greatest Hamburger Lover Contest.
The Hamburger Lover contest calls for hamburger lovers to come forward and tell Dave what they love about hamburgers. Dave will then don his apron and head out to personally cook hamburgers for the lucky winner.
Hamburger lovers will find this an easy task given their attachment to hamburgers. After all, Americans consume three hamburgers per person, per week.* Given this devotion to America's favorite food, Dave is calling all cooks to enter the contest and share their love of hamburgers.
"I've been a hamburger lover all my life," says Thomas. "That's why I started Wendy's -- and I know hamburgers are important at family gatherings and even lend some comfort to a meal on the run."
America's love affair with hamburgers is nothing new. In 1940, hamburgers replaced hot dogs as the most popular fast food in the United States, and remain on top today with Americans now buying nearly 38 billion hamburgers a year. Almost 77% of the beef consumed away from home is a hamburger or cheeseburger.
According to research conducted by Forbes Consulting Group, Americans have strong feelings about their hamburgers. In focus group sessions, consumers expressed, "a feeling of total contentment from eating a hamburger." Additionally, consumers judge the perfect hamburger by a list of gold standards:
Fresh, juicy patty that is not overly dry or tough -- still running with juice, and hot to taste Tender bun that is soft and reasonably chewy but not dry or hard -- and has not become soggy from contents Vegetables that are brightly colored, cold in temperature, and crisp in texture Condiments in correct amounts (not "dabs" nor running out of the bun).
Hamburger fans across the nation can enter the contest by submitting an essay or video telling or showing Dave why they are America's Greatest Hamburger Lover. Dave and a panel of judges will choose the best entry explaining why the contestant loves hamburgers, their favorite hamburger story or what they would do for a hamburger.
America's Greatest Hamburger Lover winner will win a cameo appearance in an upcoming Wendy's commercial as well as having Dave cook hamburgers for their family and friends.
Hamburger lovers of any age can enter "Dave's Search for America's Greatest Hamburger Lover" Contest, with no purchase necessary. All entries must be received by August 15, 1998. Finalists will be notified by August 31, 1998. Hamburger lovers come forth and send essay entries, no longer than 150 words, or video entries, no longer than three minutes, to "Dave's Search for America's Greatest Hamburger Lover" Contest, P.O. Box 8548, Prospect Heights, IL 60070. Dave is waiting! And he wants you!
Consumers can obtain a copy of the Official Rules by sending a self- addressed, stamped envelope to "Dave's Search for America's Greatest Hamburger Lover" Official Contest Rules, P.O. Box 8419, Dept. GF, Prospect Heights, IL 60070.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
Return to Home Page