New York City Ranks No.1 for retail sales of hot dogs

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 18, 2005- New York City eats the most hot dogs according to the "Top Ten Hot Dog Eating Cities" of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC). In 2004, New Yorkers consumed $112.7 million worth of frankfurters and "better for you" hot dogs using statistics prepared by Information Resources Inc.

Hot dog sales in Los Angeles and the Baltimore-Washington came in at second and third in total supermarket dollar sales.

"New Yorkers have also been known for their fondness for hot dogs", said Janet Riley, senior vice president of public affairs for the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC). "With the popularity of hot dog carts and a love of baseball in The City, although not counted in these sales figures, it is no wonder that they top the list."

Another highlight of the 2004 consumption data includes an upsurge in dollar sales for dinner sausage; with the top consumption almost double last year’s figures ($65,366,270 up from $34,395,160). New York City showed an increase of 10.2 percent since last year while Los Angeles, Calif. led the way. Baltimore/ Washington and San Francisco/Oakland markets both show an 11.4 and 17.7 percentage increase, respectively.

NHDSC conducts an annual survey of Major League Baseball stadiums to track hot dog and sausage consumption during the season. The results of that survey — and the title of ‘Baseball’s Biggest Hot Dog Fans’ — will be announced at the start of the baseball season in April. Hot dog consumption at the nation’s ballparks continues to increase, and sausages have also become a popular concession item at stadiums, in recent years.

Complete hot dog and sausage sales data for the nation’s top 10 markets and trend data is available online at http://www.hot-dog.org

NHDSC is a project of the American Meat Institute Foundation and is funded by contributions from U.S. hot dog and sausage manufacturers and the companies that supply them with equipment, ingredients and services. Established in 1994, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council conducts scientific research to benefit hot dog and sausage manufacturers. The Council also serves as an information resource to consumers and media on issues related to quality, safety, nutrition and preparation of hot dogs and sausages. Visit us at http://www.hot-dog.org.
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