Alexander Raths / Shutterstock.com Grillworthy Gifts From sausages to steaks, promo offers plenty of options for meaty treats, plus brandable tools to prepare and serve them. By Rachel Zoch SWEETS AND SNACKS abound in promo, but the industry also has you covered when your clients want something with a little more meat to it – literally. Meats are at the heart of many of our celebratory traditions – think hot dogs on July Fourth or turkey for Thanksgiving – and barbecue is big business, with the global grill market projected to reach almost $13 billion by 2032. In fact, a 2022 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Omaha Steaks found that 8 in 10 Americans enjoy outdoor barbecues with friends and family more than going out to a restaurant. May is the perfect time to think about how to get your clients’ brands in on the fun, from National Barbecue Day on May 16 and Memorial Day to three of the most popular holidays for backyard barbecues: Father’s Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. “Food is always relevant,” says Nicki Staats, director of merchandising at iPROMOTEu, the No. 13 distributor in the inaugural PPAI 100. “I think a lot of food vendors get the misconception that they’re only relevant in fourth quarter.” There are plenty of ways to appeal to meat eaters when it comes to promo, she adds. Of course, there are companies like Omaha Steaks and Kansas City Steak Company that will send fresh cuts of beef, poultry and seafood on your clients’ behalf, and Maple Ridge Farms offers charcuterie boards, as well as smoked turkey breasts and spiral-sliced hams. Steak is the No. 1 grilled food in the U.S., but people also enjoy chicken, fish and veggies – even fruit (pineapple cracked the top 10). Useful items like branded cutting boards and grilling tools can enhance the end user’s experience in a lasting way, even for vegetarians and vegans. That’s the beauty of gifting a kit with a variety of items, says Staats. “It’s going to appeal to a wider audience, and it normally has something that they’re going to be able to keep within that kit, whether it be a basket or cutting board or a cheese knife or something of that nature” to keep the brand around longer, she says. Here are just a few of the options to appeal to carnivores and more. Essentials | Good Taste 18 • MAY 2024 • PPAI
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