J&D's Down Home Enterprises, also known as J&D's Foods, was an American company founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow to produce vegetarian based, bacon-related products such as Bacon Salt and Baconnaise. In November 2017, the company was purchased by L and L Specialty Foods, based in Altura, Minnesota.
The company was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow. The company's initial product, Bacon Salt, was conceived by Esch while considering the virtues of the drink Mitch Morgan, which is composed of a shot of bourbon and a piece of fried bacon as a garnish. After registering a trademark and purchasing an internet domain, Esch and Lefkow started producing Bacon Salt.[1] They funded their company with a $5,000 loan from Lefkow's 3-year-old son Dean, who had won the money on America's Funniest Home Videos for a video in which he smacks his dad with a hit while playing T-Ball.[2] Bacon Salt became a hit, and as of 2007 was sold in all 50 states and 26 other countries. Esch and Lefkow have since repaid the $5,000 loan.[1]
MarketingEdit
Initially Esch and Lefkow had no advertising budget and were met by resistance from food brokers and distributors who were unwilling to take a chance on an unknown product. Instead of traditional advertising, they sent jars of Bacon Salt to editors of food blogs and set up online profiles for Bacon Salt for online communities including MySpace and Facebook. The technique worked, and Esch and Lefkow received 800 orders in the first week for their three varieties (original, hickory, and peppered) which included an order from a customer in Texas for 36 jars. They sold 20,000 jars between their opening in July 2007 and November 2007.[3] In addition to online marketing, Esch and Lefkow spent an average of 30 minutes per day phoning the media, and explaining why they should do a story about them.[4]
Mayonnaise WrestlingEdit
On October 28, 2008 J&D's Foods hosted The World's First Charity No Holds Barred Battle To The Death Mayonnaise Wrestling Match at Heavens night club in Seattle, Washington. The event featured three bouts of wrestling in 200 gallons of mayonnaise inside a ring made of old mattresses and hay bales. The main event included a fight between combatants dressed in a 7' foam Bacon suit and a giant jar of Mayonnaise.[5] The event promoted the launch of their new bacon-flavored mayonnaise, Baconnaise, and funds raised benefited the family of a deceased co-worker. J&D's hosted a complimentary BLT sandwich bar served $3 Mitch Morgan shots made with Maker's Mark bourbon.
The BacathlonEdit
On November 19, 2009 J&D's Foods hosted The Bacathlon at Heavens night club in Seattle, Washington. Promoted as The World's First Bacon-Themed Multi-Sport Athletic and Endurance Event that featured an attempt to set the World Record for Bacon Eating. The Bacathlon featured local Seattle personalities competing against each other dressed in giant foam Bacon suits. The competitors included Ben Dragavon from the Seattle Sounders, Mark Rahner from ROTTEN Comics, Thee Ted Smith from KISW 99.9 FM, Josh Black a.k.a. Ronald McFondle from Seattle Semi-Pro Wrestling, Justin Barnes from KFNK 104.9 FM, Sheeza Brickhouse from the Rat City Rollergirls, Erik "The Red" Denmark from Major League Eating and Jessica Williams the J&D's Foods Fall 2009 intern. J&D's once again served $3 Mitch Morgan shots made with Maker's Mark bourbon.
Novelty ProductsEdit
J&D's Foods has used novelty bacon-flavored products Bacon Lip Balm, baconlube, Mmmvelopes, BaconAir, Bacon Coffins, Bacon Baby Formula and bacon soda to generate media buzz and spread the awareness of their mainstream consumer products.
ProductsEdit
J&D's markets a variety of bacon-flavored products, including:
Bacon SaltEdit
Bacon Salt was the first product developed by J&D's Foods.[1] The first attempt at making bacon salt was to take bacon grease and pour it over kosher salt. That attempt result was unsuccessful and, according to Esch, tasted disgusting. Upon perfecting the recipe, the pair introduced the first three flavors of Bacon Salt — Original, Hickory and Peppered varieties.[6] J&D's went on to launch Natural Bacon Salt and the Limited Edition Holiday Flavors Cheddar, Jalapeño, Maple, Applewood and Mesquite Bacon Salt in 2008. Bacon Salt is vegetarian and kosher. Hickory Bacon Salt is vegan.[3][dead link][6]
In 2008, J&D's Foods launched "Operation Bacon Salt" to provide Bacon Salt to troops serving abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan where pork is not readily available. After receiving several emails from troops stationed abroad J&D's began mailing free Bacon Salt to troops.[7][8]
Introduced in October 2008, Baconnaise is a bacon-flavored mayonnaise spread available in both Regular and Lite versions.[9]Jon Stewart of The Daily Show described Baconnaise as being "for people who want heart disease but are too lazy to actually make the bacon."[10][11]
Bacon Lip BalmEdit
Introduced in October 2008, Bacon Lip Balm is a bacon-flavored lip balm. J&D's bacon-inspired lip balm, which is a "hot seller" on their web site, having sold over 50,000 units, often by the dozen. Customer reviews range from being described as the worst thing they have ever heard of to the greatest thing ever.[6] When Esch and Lefkow appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in March 2009, Winfrey's co-hosts Mark Consuelos and Ali Wentworth applied Bacon Lip Balm during the interview.
BaconPOPEdit
Introduced in November 2009, BaconPOP is a bacon-flavored microwave popcorn.
Bacon RanchEdit
Introduced in November 2009, Bacon Ranch is a bacon-flavored ranch dip/mix, to be combined with buttermilk, sour cream and/or mayonnaise.
MmmvelopesEdit
Discontinued. Introduced in November 2009, Mmmvelopes are bacon-flavored envelopes that both look like pieces of bacon and taste like bacon when licked.[12]
^ abcEdwards, Sue (November 27, 2007). . Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on June 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
^Lang Jones, Jean (14 September 2012). "David Lefkow: 2012 40 Under 40 Honoree". Pugent Sound Business Journal. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
^ abGaudette, Karen (November 14, 2007). . The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
^Isen, Cheryl (June 20, 2008). "Start a company with $5,000? How the Bacon Salt guys did it". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
^Mosley, Jason (29 October 2008). "Bacon, Mayonnaise, and Wrestling". "Mr. Baconpants. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
^ abcKarlinsky, Neal (April 21, 2009). . ABC News. Archived from the original on 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
^The Bryant Park Project (2008-06-06). "Operation Bacon Salt". NPR. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
^"It's bacon! New seasoning sent to troops - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq". Army Times. Archived from the original on 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
^"Wednesday February 25, 2009 - Tom Selleck". The Daily Show. 2009-02-25.
^. Seattlest. 2009-02-26. Archived from the original on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
^Hickey, Matt (18 November 2009). "Mmmvelopes: Bacon-flavored mail!". CNET. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
External linksEdit
J&D's Down Home Enterprises
August 25, 2023
down, home, enterprises, also, known, foods, american, company, founded, 2007, entrepreneurs, justin, esch, dave, lefkow, produce, vegetarian, based, bacon, related, products, such, bacon, salt, baconnaise, november, 2017, company, purchased, specialty, foods,. J amp D s Down Home Enterprises also known as J amp D s Foods was an American company founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow to produce vegetarian based bacon related products such as Bacon Salt and Baconnaise In November 2017 the company was purchased by L and L Specialty Foods based in Altura Minnesota Contents 1 History 2 Marketing 2 1 Mayonnaise Wrestling 2 2 The Bacathlon 2 3 Novelty Products 3 Products 3 1 Bacon Salt 3 2 Baconnaise 3 3 Bacon Lip Balm 3 4 BaconPOP 3 5 Bacon Ranch 3 6 Mmmvelopes 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe company was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow The company s initial product Bacon Salt was conceived by Esch while considering the virtues of the drink Mitch Morgan which is composed of a shot of bourbon and a piece of fried bacon as a garnish After registering a trademark and purchasing an internet domain Esch and Lefkow started producing Bacon Salt 1 They funded their company with a 5 000 loan from Lefkow s 3 year old son Dean who had won the money on America s Funniest Home Videos for a video in which he smacks his dad with a hit while playing T Ball 2 Bacon Salt became a hit and as of 2007 was sold in all 50 states and 26 other countries Esch and Lefkow have since repaid the 5 000 loan 1 Marketing EditInitially Esch and Lefkow had no advertising budget and were met by resistance from food brokers and distributors who were unwilling to take a chance on an unknown product Instead of traditional advertising they sent jars of Bacon Salt to editors of food blogs and set up online profiles for Bacon Salt for online communities including MySpace and Facebook The technique worked and Esch and Lefkow received 800 orders in the first week for their three varieties original hickory and peppered which included an order from a customer in Texas for 36 jars They sold 20 000 jars between their opening in July 2007 and November 2007 3 In addition to online marketing Esch and Lefkow spent an average of 30 minutes per day phoning the media and explaining why they should do a story about them 4 Mayonnaise Wrestling Edit On October 28 2008 J amp D s Foods hosted The World s First Charity No Holds Barred Battle To The Death Mayonnaise Wrestling Match at Heavens night club in Seattle Washington The event featured three bouts of wrestling in 200 gallons of mayonnaise inside a ring made of old mattresses and hay bales The main event included a fight between combatants dressed in a 7 foam Bacon suit and a giant jar of Mayonnaise 5 The event promoted the launch of their new bacon flavored mayonnaise Baconnaise and funds raised benefited the family of a deceased co worker J amp D s hosted a complimentary BLT sandwich bar served 3 Mitch Morgan shots made with Maker s Mark bourbon The Bacathlon Edit On November 19 2009 J amp D s Foods hosted The Bacathlon at Heavens night club in Seattle Washington Promoted as The World s First Bacon Themed Multi Sport Athletic and Endurance Event that featured an attempt to set the World Record for Bacon Eating The Bacathlon featured local Seattle personalities competing against each other dressed in giant foam Bacon suits The competitors included Ben Dragavon from the Seattle Sounders Mark Rahner from ROTTEN Comics Thee Ted Smith from KISW 99 9 FM Josh Black a k a Ronald McFondle from Seattle Semi Pro Wrestling Justin Barnes from KFNK 104 9 FM Sheeza Brickhouse from the Rat City Rollergirls Erik The Red Denmark from Major League Eating and Jessica Williams the J amp D s Foods Fall 2009 intern J amp D s once again served 3 Mitch Morgan shots made with Maker s Mark bourbon Novelty Products Edit J amp D s Foods has used novelty bacon flavored products Bacon Lip Balm baconlube Mmmvelopes BaconAir Bacon Coffins Bacon Baby Formula and bacon soda to generate media buzz and spread the awareness of their mainstream consumer products Products EditJ amp D s markets a variety of bacon flavored products including Bacon Salt Edit Bacon Salt was the first product developed by J amp D s Foods 1 The first attempt at making bacon salt was to take bacon grease and pour it over kosher salt That attempt result was unsuccessful and according to Esch tasted disgusting Upon perfecting the recipe the pair introduced the first three flavors of Bacon Salt Original Hickory and Peppered varieties 6 J amp D s went on to launch Natural Bacon Salt and the Limited Edition Holiday Flavors Cheddar Jalapeno Maple Applewood and Mesquite Bacon Salt in 2008 Bacon Salt is vegetarian and kosher Hickory Bacon Salt is vegan 3 dead link 6 In 2008 J amp D s Foods launched Operation Bacon Salt to provide Bacon Salt to troops serving abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan where pork is not readily available After receiving several emails from troops stationed abroad J amp D s began mailing free Bacon Salt to troops 7 8 Baconnaise Edit Main article Baconnaise Introduced in October 2008 Baconnaise is a bacon flavored mayonnaise spread available in both Regular and Lite versions 9 Jon Stewart of The Daily Show described Baconnaise as being for people who want heart disease but are too lazy to actually make the bacon 10 11 Bacon Lip Balm Edit Introduced in October 2008 Bacon Lip Balm is a bacon flavored lip balm J amp D s bacon inspired lip balm which is a hot seller on their web site having sold over 50 000 units often by the dozen Customer reviews range from being described as the worst thing they have ever heard of to the greatest thing ever 6 When Esch and Lefkow appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in March 2009 Winfrey s co hosts Mark Consuelos and Ali Wentworth applied Bacon Lip Balm during the interview BaconPOP Edit Introduced in November 2009 BaconPOP is a bacon flavored microwave popcorn Bacon Ranch Edit Introduced in November 2009 Bacon Ranch is a bacon flavored ranch dip mix to be combined with buttermilk sour cream and or mayonnaise Mmmvelopes Edit Discontinued Introduced in November 2009 Mmmvelopes are bacon flavored envelopes that both look like pieces of bacon and taste like bacon when licked 12 See also Edit Companies portalBacon maniaReferences Edit a b c Edwards Sue November 27 2007 Entrepreneurs Decided it Was Time to Make the World Taste Like Bacon Kitsap Sun Archived from the original on June 8 2009 Retrieved 2009 05 07 Lang Jones Jean 14 September 2012 David Lefkow 2012 40 Under 40 Honoree Pugent Sound Business Journal Retrieved 2 December 2021 a b Gaudette Karen November 14 2007 Bacon in a bottle It s holy to fans The Seattle Times Archived from the original on April 23 2009 Retrieved 2009 05 07 Isen Cheryl June 20 2008 Start a company with 5 000 How the Bacon Salt guys did it Puget Sound Business Journal Retrieved 2009 05 07 Mosley Jason 29 October 2008 Bacon Mayonnaise and Wrestling Mr Baconpants Retrieved 2021 12 02 a b c Karlinsky Neal April 21 2009 Bacontrepreneurs Building Bacon Empire ABC News Archived from the original on 2009 04 25 Retrieved 2019 09 05 The Bryant Park Project 2008 06 06 Operation Bacon Salt NPR Retrieved 2012 08 12 It s bacon New seasoning sent to troops Army News News from Afghanistan amp Iraq Army Times Archived from the original on 2012 07 20 Retrieved 2012 08 12 Robinson Tasha 2008 12 09 Taste Test Baconnaise A V Club Retrieved 2009 03 15 Wednesday February 25 2009 Tom Selleck The Daily Show 2009 02 25 Baconnaise on The Daily Show Seattlest 2009 02 26 Archived from the original on 2012 02 22 Retrieved 2009 03 04 Hickey Matt 18 November 2009 Mmmvelopes Bacon flavored mail CNET Retrieved 2 December 2021 External links EditJ amp D s Down Home Enterprises Bacon Salt UK Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title J 26D 27s Down Home Enterprises amp oldid 1063236646 Bacon Salt, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
