The newest “it” cheese is Pepper Jack — Monterey Jack cheese blended with spicy peppers. Datassential, the restaurant market-research firm, reports that Pepper Jack as a menu offering on fast-food sandwiches has jumped more than 37% over the past four years
During that period, its availability as a menu offering on fast-food burgers has grown more than 56%. That’s why brand giants from Kraft to Kellogg to Blimpie are enamored.
Marketing gurus say that simply offering the cheese on restaurant menus can give a chain a competitive edge. “It’s one of the fastest-growing cheeses we’ve ever seen,” says Steve Evans, marketing vice president of Blimpie, which recently wrapped it into a turkey and chicken sub. And it’s shown up in nearly 50 other new consumer products over the past two years, reports research firm Datamonitor.
Among those pouring on the Pepper Jack:
•Blimpie. Since its promo began last month, sales of the cheese have doubled at Blimpie, Evans says. The key: Millennials love the stuff. “They tend to be more adventurous with what they put on a sandwich,” Evans says.
•Carl’s Jr. Sales of items with Pepper Jack cheese have nearly tripled over the past five years at the regional burger chain. In 2006, about 8% of all burgers sold at Carl’s Jr. included Pepper Jack cheese. Today, that figure tops 20%, and four menu items have Pepper Jack cheese, including the new Southwest Patty Melt, says Brad Haley, marketing chief.
•Kraft. Over the past six months, it’s rolled out three products made with Pepper Jack cheese, says spokeswoman Angela Wiggins.
•Blue Diamond. It rolled out Pepper Jack Nut Thins in September. “Increasing diversity in population is leading towards spicier ethnic flavors,” says Sara Holtberg, advertising and promotions manager for snacks at Blue Diamond Growers.
•Kellogg. It had to happen: Pepper Jack Cheez-Its.
Source: USA Today; Bruce Horovitz