Top Dogs Singles

An inevitable part of the average summer BBQ involves hot dogs. One particular weekend this summer, the hot dogs pictured above were brought to a BBQ that I was at. Individually packaged hot dogs! I had never seen anything like it. Previously, I had seen hot dogs in packages of 12 or 24 packaged together, but I was a bit alarmed to see this. Particularly since we had to go through the hassle of individually unwrapping each one in order to put them on the BBQ! The instructions on the box mentioned that you just toss the hot dog, wrapper and all, into the microwave and just heat. Or of course, boil, fry or BBQ without the wrapper.

My assumed rationale behind this amount of packaging: To keep the hot dogs sanitary and fresh; convenience for people who want to bring just one hot dog on the go. Based on an analysis of other Top Dogs sub-brand products, this is usually intended for a younger, school-age audience.

Alternative considerations: To be perfectly frank (no pun intended....maybe.) I can't picture someone bringing a hot dog to go, in general. Actually, in all the situations, it doesn't make sense. At schools, kids either have a cafeteria with pre-made food, or you bring something cold like a sandwich - I don't recall ever having a microwave to heat things up with. In an office setting, do people actually bring a single hot dog for lunch and heat it in the microwave?

However, if I was to make a recommendation for single serve hot dogs, I would challenge Maple Leaf to come up with a unique reusable wiener container, perhaps collectible that is microwavable, perhaps as an on-pack bonus on large packages of hot dogs (does anyone remember the Oscar Meyer wienermobile?). This is good for brand equity, creates excitement among kids, and would reduce overall waste.

Maple Leaf is likely in a crisis situation right now because the listeriosis outbreak, however they can be contacted here:

Consumer Hotline:
1-800-268-3708

Snail Mail:
Maple Leaf Consumer Foods
PO Box 5091, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4R3