During a recent visit to Smithfield Foods’ corporate offices in Smithfield, Virginia, MEAT+POULTRY editors got a real flavor for the company after a trip to the company-owned restaurant, Taste of Smithfield, on the city’s uber-quaint Main St. Just a short walk up the hill from the college campus-like headquarters, the restaurant shares a storefront space with The Genuine Smithfield Ham Shoppe, both of which opened in 2012. The venue showcases the company’s pork products in a retail shop that shares a roof with a restaurant and both feature Smithfield’s meats.
The bustling restaurant and ham shop are a stroke of marketing genius by Smithfield, which appears to have accomplished its goal, stated by its previous president and CEO, C. Larry Pope, when announcing the new venture five years ago. “We think it will help attract more visitors to our historic town, along with giving us a showplace for our products,” he said.
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Finger lickin’ fans of Kentucky Fried Chicken can now show off how much they love chicken with the clothing they wear, thanks to the new online merchandise shop, KFC Ltd.
The debut collection of KFC- and Colonel Sanders-inspired t-shirts, socks, pins, pillow cases, artwork and more are available at www.kfclimited.com with prices starting at $8. Fans who want to look like the Colonel can even purchase his signature string tie for just $12. All items are limited edition.
“KFC and Colonel Sanders have been American pop culture icons for more than 70 years. Our fans were craving a way to embrace the fried chicken lifestyle, and KFC Ltd. gives them the opportunity to let their colonel flag fly,” said Steve Kelly, KFC US director of media and digital.
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The list of what people would do for bacon is long– and for MEAT+POULTRY Managing Editor Kimberlie Clyma that list includes running a half marathon. Always on the lookout for some fun race bling, Clyma participated in the inaugural virtual Bacon Blitz run earlier this summer.
As a part of the virtual event put on by FitFam, an online virtual race organizer, participants register for a race distance and run it on their own in order to earn the coveted Bacon Blitz bacon and eggs medal and other giveaways. According to the Bacon Blitz website, “In paying homage to the crispity, crunchity, savory bliss that is bacon goodness, we present the Bacon Blitz for your devoted enjoyment… we shall hereby run in the glorious name of BACON.”
A portion of the race registration fees was donated to Food Lifeline.
Well done by design
The Meat News Network on YouTube is helping promote the importance and value of using a thermometer when cooking meat. Two videos featuring Univ. of California Davis Cooperative Extension Specialist Christine Bruhn, Ph.D., highlight the importance of correctly using a meat thermometer.
The videos, “Expert’s Guide to Food Thermometers” and “How to Calibrate a Meat Thermometer,” were done in partnership with the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and complement the Meat Institute’s “Ask the Meat Scientist” series which includes video explanations of how to use a meat thermometer in cuts ranging from beef steaks and roasts to pork chops and whole poultry products.
