Bacon completes the culinary genre of comfort food.  Bacon is a commodity, a common staple, a basic midwest American requirement for a complete hearty breakfast, and one known for simply being just what it is – bacon.  In the creative 21^st century of inter-connected niche markets and the need to differentiate and emerge from commoditized ruts, we can learn how some companies and vendors creatively package and add value to bacon.  For companies stuck in a laggardly commoditized space, think of new ways to add value to re-position the bacon.  Here are some examples of my favorite bacon products. 

J&D Foods Baconnaise and Bacon Salt 

http://www.jdfoods.net/

http://www.baconnaise.com/

Seattle-based J&D Foods launched their fantastically delicious and intuitively creative condiments in 2007 to a respectable amount of grassroots and social media-driven attention.  (I’ll cover the viral promotion of this in a later post)  Social media netwaves and and news outlets everywhere published their story and J&D Foods appears to be growing nicely as they appeal to the palettes of grillers, sandwich makers, and carnivores everywhere. 

Baconnaise: This is one of the bacon ideas that falls into the “why didn’t I think of that” category.  If you think your product is stuck in a commoditized rut, think of the approach taken with Baconnaise.  Baconnaise is perfect for any sandwich or burger and can even be crafted into a delicious dip.  Rich, comforting, and smooth.  A must have staple for refrigerators everywhere.

Bacon Salt is another offering from J&D Foods with infinitely unique ways to use beyond the staple of commoditized table salt and…well, bacon.  Can you imagine a delectable grilled lean buffalo or beef burger with the right dash of bacon salt?  How about corn of the cob?  Scrambled eggs?  What about rimming your bloody mary glass with Bacon Salt?  Give it a dash.  Break up the commoditized bacon rut.  Speaking of bloody mary’s, let move to the next product.

Bakon Vodka

http://bakonvodka.com/

Now we’re talking.  Flavored and infused vodka isn’t new.  Many distillers offer a variety of berry and citrus flavors perfect for everyone from spring break dingbats to cocktail sophisticants.  Black Rock Spirits (another Seattle-based firm) produces Bakon Vodka with Idaho potatoes.  Black Rock claims they perfected their recipe over a two year period showing a commitment to getting it right.  Bakon Vodka has become popular with some sets of the new cocktail generation.  Bakon Vodka is absolutely brilliant with a spicy bloody mary or chilled dirty martini.  Some Seattle bartenders offer a Bakon Vodka bloody mary in a glass rimmed with Bacon Salt – now there’s some added value to the bacon!  If you find a bottle on the shelf, buy it.  Pronto.  It’s hard to find in some areas and liquor stores often have a hard time keeping it in stock.

Takeaway: Don’t be the plain bacon.  Find ways to reposition your bacon.  Add value to your bacon.  Have fun.  Appeal to customer emotions.