Pretzels Take America By Storm

The food industry has apparently decided that the American consumer’s craving for pretzels is boundless. According to researcher Mintel, a record 160 pretzel products were introduced in 2012, up from 60 four years ago. Successful entries in the market include Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger, Dunkin’ Donuts Pretzel Roll Roast Beef Sandwich, Sonic’s Cheesy Bacon Pretzel Dog, and a slew of others. Another research firm says pretzel bread is the fastest-growing sandwich bread: between 2011 and 2012 there was a 36 percent rise on sandwich menus. The reason for pretzel mania, experts say, is not just its flavor: pretzels are lower in fat than other breads and pastries. Expect pretzels to show up in a widening variety of food products in the near future.