Baconator
{{short description|Cheeseburger sold by Wendy's}}
{{Nutritional value
|name = Baconator
|image = Baconator.jpg
|caption = The Baconator
|serving_size = 1 double sandwich (304 grams)
|kcal = 960
|opt2n = Energy from sandwich
|opt2v = {{convert|570|kcal|kJ|abbr=on}}
|fat = 62 g
|satfat = 25g
|transfat = 1 g
|opt1n = Cholesterol
|opt1v = 211 mg
|sodium_mg = 1850
|carbs = 40 g
|fiber = 2 g
|sugars = 10 g
|protein = 63 g
|vitA_ug = 83
|vitC_mg = 17
|vitE_mg =46
|calcium_mg = 200
|iron_mg = 5.25
|source = [http://www.wendys.com/food/Nutrition.jsp www.wendys.com]
|note = This information is effective as of March 2013.{{update inline|date=May 2025}}
}}
The Baconator is a brand of cheeseburger introduced by the international fast-food restaurant chain Wendy's in 2007. The primary product consists of two quarter-pound beef patties topped with mayonnaise, ketchup, two slices of cheese, and six strips of bacon. Single and triple patty versions were formerly offered, as well as limited-time seasonal variants.
The brand was later expanded with the Son of Baconator, which uses smaller patties, and the Breakfast Baconator, which replaces the hamburger patties with a sausage patty topped with an egg and a melted Swiss cheese sauce.
History
The Baconator was introduced in April 2007 as part of a "back to basics" reorganization by Wendy's new CEO Kerrii Anderson.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/24/business/24interview.html?ei=5088&en=88faae66d331c09a&ex=1353560400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print |title=A Turnaround Plan That Includes Baconators |author=Andrew Martin |work=the New York Times |date=2007-11-24 |access-date=2007-12-11 |quote=The company has improved its marketing, with quirky 'red wig' television ads, and it has introduced a variety of products like the hefty Baconator sandwich, she says.}} The addition of the product was part of a push to add menu items intended to appeal to the 18- to 34-year-old demographic and expand late-night sales. This product and others, coupled with a new advertising program, contributed to an increase in store sales of approximately 11% during the period of five fiscal quarters ending in October 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2007-10-25-882112895_x.htm |title=Wendy's review continuing |publisher=USA Today |date=2007-10-25 |access-date=2007-12-11 |quote=The company will also update its value menu to focus on the critical 18- to 34-year-old customer and try to re-energize its late night business.}}
=Advertising=
As a cross promotion with the Canadian Football League, the Baconator has been named the official burger of the league.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wendys.canadiannetstakes.com/Prizes.aspx |title=Kick for a Million Details |access-date=2007-10-22 |archive-date=2007-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107024011/http://www.wendys.canadiannetstakes.com/Prizes.aspx |url-status=dead }} They held a promotion running from April–May 2009 in which special scratch tickets shaped like bacon were given out with each purchase. In addition to being able to enter a draw to win an Xbox 360 by texting the number, the person could enter the numbers online to win a chance to compete in a halftime CFL contest to build a giant Baconator, with the winner getting $25,000. This was termed the 'Baconator Boot Camp'. During the promotion, the store workers wore T-shirts advertising the contest. On August 14, 2009, Pete Richardson from Halifax, Nova Scotia won the contest and the prize of $25,000, in front of a capacity crowd of 24,754 at the Rogers Centre.
= Economic indicator =
The popularity of the Baconator has led to politicians and others using the burger as an example of the price of goods related to inflation and so-called "price gouging". US Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts has used the burger in examples of what she perceives to be price gouging and to lobby for more government control.{{Cite web |last=Suderman |first=Peter |date=2024-12-29 |title=Everybody Hates Prices |url=https://reason.com/2024/12/29/everybody-hates-prices/?utm_medium=reason_email&utm_source=new_at_reason&utm_campaign=reason_brand&utm_content=The%20Libertarian%20Case%20for%20the%20Late%20Jimmy%20Carter&utm_term=&time=December%2030th,%202024&mpid=38717&mpweb=2534-5372-38717 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US}}
Ingredients
- Bacon strips
- Hamburger bun
- Two whole-beef patties
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- American cheese
See also
- BK Stacker – a similar product from Burger King
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Hamburgers}}
{{Wendy's}}
{{Bacon}}