Meat and Poultry Industry News

1-28 news: Carl's Jr. chain launches Grilled Cheese Bacon Burgers

Carl’s Jr. has created the ultimate comfort food, Grilled Cheese Bacon Burgers™. Starting today, fans of the cheesy, gooey comfort food can try one of the new Carl’s Jr. Grilled Cheese Bacon Burgers, which features all the comfort and deliciousness of the grilled cheese sandwich mom used to make, with the addition of a delicious charbroiled burger and bacon.

“The origin of the new Grilled Cheese Bacon Burgers is actually kind of a funny story,” said Brad Haley, executive vice president of marketing at CKE Restaurants. “We were initially working on menu items we could offer for our vegetarian customers and made a really good grilled cheese sandwich. But, being Carl’s Jr., a chain known for its decadent burgers, someone suggested that we try it with a charbroiled burger patty and bacon for our carnivorous customers and the Grilled Cheese Bacon Burgers were born. With four slices of melted American and Swiss cheeses on grilled sourdough bread, it really delivers on the idea of a grilled cheese sandwich combined with a bacon cheeseburger. It’s delicious … and we’ll still make a really good grilled cheese sandwich for our vegetarian customers if they want one.”

The Grilled Cheese Bacon Burgers are available at Carl’s Jr. as a single burger, double burger or Six Dollar Burger™ version, and sell for $2.49, $3.49 and $4.49, respectively. Prices may vary.

The new burger will be promoted through clever ads created by Los Angeles-based advertising agency Mendelsohn|Zien, the firm behind many iconic ads for Carl’s Jr. and sister chain Hardee’s®.

Source: CKE Restaurants Inc.

N.J. firm recalls instant noodle products

Well Luck Co., Inc., a Jersey City, N.J., establishment, is recalling approximately 50,000 pounds of instant noodle products that were ineligible for import to the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Well Luck Co., Inc., is recalling the instant noodle products because they do not meet product inspection or exemption requirements for poultry, beef, and pork. The foreign inspection system of the country where the beef, poultry, and pork ingredients originated, China, has not been deemed to be equivalent as required by federal regulations.

The problem was discovered after FSIS identified the products in the marketplace. The instant noodle products were distributed to retail establishments nationwide. FSIS has received no reports of illness as a result of consuming these products.

For a list of specific recalled product, click here to be taken to the USDA’s announcement.

Source: USDA-FSIS

2009 Retail Beef Backer Awards announced

The beef checkoff-funded Retail Beef Backer Awards recognizes four retailers for their commitment to outstanding beef marketing and merchandising programs. Sendik’s Food Markets, Southern Family Markets, Harris Teeter Supermarkets and Supervalu, Inc., are the winners of the 2009 Retail Beef Backer Awards. Presentations are being made at the 2010 Cattle Industry Annual Convention & Trade Show. “The Retail Beef Backer Awards highlight the exceptional work retailers do throughout the year to increase beef demand. This program is one way beef producers show their appreciation to retailers for their efforts to support our industry,” said Jim Henger, executive director of marketing for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), which contracts to manage retail programs for the beef checkoff. The 2009 award winners are:

Large Chain Retailer: Harris Teeter Supermarkets (194stores), based in Matthews, North Carolina
Mid-Size Retailer: Southern Family Markets (66 stores),based in Birmingham, Alabama
Independent Retailer: Sendik’s Food Markets (8 stores),based in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.
Innovator of the Year: Supervalu, Inc. (2,500 stores),based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, for their launch of their Stockman & Dakota™-branded beef line.

Retail Beef Backer Award winners are selected based on their excellent merchandising of beef at the meat case. A third-party judging panel also took into consideration the retailers’ tie-ins with beef checkoff-funded initiatives such as Middle Meat Mania, Beef Alternative Merchandising (BAM), Hispanic Marketing, Easy Fresh Cooking®, Beef Training Camp and Summer Grilling promotions. Applicants are also judged on non-beef checkoff-funded beef promotions that focus on increasing beef demand among their customers. Such programs include outstanding beef promotions, co-marketing promotions and customer education programs.
Source: National Cattelmen’s Beef Association

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