Washington - The venerable hot dog has taken on an important new status in the world of international trade. What was once a traditional American food has become a favorite among such formidable trading partners as Russia and China, which are now importing made-in-the U.S.A. wieners in record amounts.
According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, which tracks hot dog and sausage consumption trends for the American meat and poultry industry, the leading overseas customer by far is the Russian Federation. Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, Russians have developed a huge taste for the American hot dog. At a time when livestock production in Russia has fallen behind during the restructuring of the economy, Russian consumers are turning to U.S. hot dogs as a major source of protein and are eating American franks for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As a result, the market for U.S. hot dogs has skyrocketed -- from $122,000 in sales in 1992 to over $70 million in 1996.
Behind this dramatic growth in sales, the Council explains that "sosiska" or sausage has always been routine fare in Russia. For breakfast, Russians slice hot dogs, fry them in butter, and dish them up with bread, cheese and smoked fish. At the same time, Russians consider hot dogs the perfect metro station snack food which has led to an explosion of hot dog stands -- one on almost every corner in the downtown areas.
The Russian love affair with "sosiska" goes back to a time when there were no imported products, no buns and a shortage of paper products for plates and napkins. During these Cold War days, consumers ate their hot dog on a single slice of bread -- sometimes white, sometimes Russian black bread, sometimes fresh, but often stale -- with a squirt of watered-down ketchup.
Now, reports the Council, American hot dogs are widely available and are being featured in a variety of presentations. Along with the basic hot dog and bun combination served with the option of different condiments, vendors now dress up American wieners and sell them as fancy food. For example, a top seller at $2 each -- compared to 50 cents for the common variety imported hot dog -- is "Po-Fransuskey" (French style), which is served in a simulated baguette. Here, vendors bore a hole in the bread, squirt ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise inside and then insert a long, skinny hot dog into the middle. Sales of "Po Fransusky" are strong, as are a variety of dressed up sausages, brats and wursts.
Besides dressing up their hot dogs, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council finds that Russians prefer more spicy franks than do Americans. As a result, hot dogs manufactured for the Russian market contain a lot more garlic. Further, Russians prefer American-made poultry hot dogs because overseas shipping costs put beef and pork franks out of the price range of most consumers.
"It is clear from U.S. export statistics that American hot dogs have found true popularity in the Russian marketplace," said J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute (AMI). "In five short years, American franks have become mainstream in the Russian culture because they have been adapted to suit Russian taste preferences and eating habits."
China Loves American Hot Dogs
Although not as well developed, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council points to China as another major market for U.S. hot dogs. Here, American franks are mostly consumed by younger Chinese and the well-to-do, but U.S. manufacturers are looking at what is possible in the near future: in Beijing alone, there are 10 million potential consumers who are already biting into American fast food and are anxious for more options. The potential is so great that at least one major U.S. company is building hot dog manufacturing plants in China, with other companies eyeing the market carefully.
In selling to China, U.S. marketers are quickly learning to adapt to the Chinese way of eating hot dogs which, in a word, is unique. The popular sensation is "Rouchang," a fully cooked, cold hot dog wrapped in red plastic which the Chinese eat like a popsicle, slowly peeling the red plastic down as they go. Sold in supermarkets, food stands, and on the street, "Rouchang" is eaten cold and taken everywhere as a snack. Also, coming into its own is the warmed hot dog which vendors serve on a stick. In this version, consumers eat the hot dog solo -- without a bun or any condiments.
American hot dog exporters also have learned that Chinese consumers like their hot dogs sweet. And like their Russian counterparts, the Chinese prefer franks made from poultry although hot dogs are also selling in beef, pork, mixed meat and pepperoni varieties. "We are learning something new everyday," commented AMI president, J. Patrick Boyle. "The Chinese market is a new and exciting opportunity for U.S. hot dog manufacturers and one that we will make every effort to grow."
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council is a project of the AMI Foundation. The AMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, education and information that benefit the meat and poultry industry. Originally created in 1944, the AMI Foundation today solicits grants from government, industry and other organizations to fund a broad range of food safety, worker safety, nutrition and consumer information projects.
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