While the team at Wright^® Brand Bacon celebrates bacon lovers every day, we like to take it up a notch on National Bacon Day. Recognized each year on December 30th, it is a time to truly revel in delicious bacon flavors and recipes using bacon. And not that we need an excuse, but it’s also an opportunity to eat bacon for every single meal, whether cooking it up with scrambled eggs in the morning or wrapping dates to enjoy for an evening appetizer.

Reflecting on this past challenging and unpredictable year, we learned to find comfort and joy in the smallest of things. For many, that included cooking favorite dishes more often, exploring new recipes or indulging in favorite foods, including bacon. It is true – after talking with customers, partners and employees, we heard time and time again that bacon was a source of comfort, a bright spot during mundane moments. But don’t just take our word for it: In 2020, over 268 million Americans consumed bacon¹. Bacon sales in the U.S. totaled more than $5.6 billion (1.02 billionpounds), up 18% over 2019 sales². The numbers don’t lie – more people were in search of bacon joy this year. 

We also started to see new bacon trends emerge or hold true:

• Applewood Smoked bacon was the hot new flavor trend in 2020! The annual growth rate in the Applewood category was nearly 36% — right behind fan favorite hickory smoked³.

• Although bacon had its breakout moments in the kitchen this year through lunch and dinner recipes, 71% of Americans still consumed their bacon with breakfast⁴. 

• In 2020, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming were the top bacon-loving states².

Now if these findings weren’t crispy enough, we also learned 81% of Americans say they receive an unwanted gift every year, and over half would rather have received bacon for a holiday gift in 2020⁵. Knowing this, coupled with the fact that bacon is a staple during the holiday season, we wanted to find a way to help bacon lovers celebrate their love. 

Starting today in honor of National Bacon Day, people can participate in the first-ever #BaconGiftSwap. Timed to the holiday gifting season, fans can participate in the #BaconGiftSwap by posting their undesirable gift on their Instagram or Twitter accounts, tagging Wright® Brand, and sharing why they want bacon instead for the chance to win a year’s supply of hand trimmed, thick cut, real wood smoked Wright^® Brand Bacon. On January 15, at the close of the contest, 100 winners will be selected. 

We may be biased, but it is the perfect way to end the year on a high note and celebrate bacon lovers across the country. Check out more details here.

As we reflect on the close of the year and celebrate National Bacon Day, even if it happens to be different this year, we want to give a shout out to all of our fellow bacon lovers and enthusiasts and thank you for joining us in spreading the bacon joy.

Cheers and a very happy bacon-filled New Year!

¹Data collected from Simmons National Consumer Survey. 

²Data collected from Nielsen. 

³Data collected from Innova.

⁴Data collected from ABC Chicago.

⁵Survey conducted by OnePoll for Wright^® Brand Bacon Gift Swap on November 16, 2020 with a sample of 2,000 Americans who celebrate a winter holiday.