“I Heart Beef” Campaign Set To Kick Off In February
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During a time when sales of middle meats are traditionally slower, the checkoff’s food and nutrition communications team, using conclusions drawn from checkoff-funded market research, is gearing up to capitalize on a month that boasts many familiar holidays and special occasions. Thus, the beef checkoff is initiating an “I Heart Beef” campaign.
The program was specifically designed to help strengthen interest in beef middle meats, cuts that have a proven return on investment for beef producers, by reminding consumers of their passion for great steaks like the T-bone and tenderloin. Not only that, but February is Heart Health Month.
“A growing body of evidence shows that lean beef, trimmed of visible fat, can be a part of a low saturated fat diet that does not increase heart disease risk factors,” says
The checkoff-funded consumer survey used as a foundation for the campaign found:
- In this month of romance, beef is the preferred choice of Americans (62 percent) because nothing says love like a great steak dinner for Valentine’s Day.
- Americans associate steak as a “best match” for love (44 percent), romance (42 percent) and passion (41 percent)—more so than other high-end proteins.
- When it’s time to share that Valentine’s Day meal, beef wins. A ribeye (35 percent) or T-bone steak (32 percent) are chosen as the best meal to share with a significant other.
- Americans most often associate beef with celebrations (50 percent), compared to chicken (18 percent), pork (17 percent) or fish (15 percent).
- Sixty-two percent of Americans say they choose to prepare beef if they are looking for gratitude or appreciation from their dinner partner.
- Fifty-three percent of Americans identify filet mignon as the food most associated with candlelight romance and 50 percent of Americans think filet mignon is the best way to say “I love you.”
“This campaign will kick off in February but the benefit to beef producers is that its usefulness can be extended to other holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day when consumers are celebrating the holiday with corned beef and cabbage,” says Fugate. “And there’s something out there for everyone – if you’d like to participate as a producer, this program offers ways to be involved and help share the beef story so hopefully more people remember to ‘heart’ beef during February. Watch your e-mail or contact your state beef council for more details.”
For more information about checkoff-funded initiatives, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.
The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.
Funded by the Beef Checkoff.