National Hot Dog Day in 2018 was celebrated on Wednesday, July 18. The holiday is officially recognized by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. Various retailers, convenience stores, and restaurant chains offered free hot dogs and discounted menu items to mark the occasion. These promotions provided consumers with opportunities to enjoy free food and low-cost meals at participating locations.
Many of the deals were concentrated in specific geographic regions, particularly in Delaware, California, and Florida. The availability of offers varied by location, and some promotions were limited to the first 100 customers or required specific actions such as downloading a mobile application. Consumers were advised to contact individual locations to confirm participation and specific deal details, as offerings could change.
National Hot Dog Day Deals and Freebies
Several major brands and local establishments offered specific deals for National Hot Dog Day on July 18, 2018.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven offered $1 Big Bite hot dogs on July 18. This convenience store chain allowed customers to choose from various toppings, including chili, cheese, pickles, onions, jalapenos, relish, and pico de gallo, to customize their hot dogs at no extra cost. The chain also featured a specific flavor called "The Reaper," a spicy dog made with 100 percent beef and topped with Carolina Reaper seasoning blend.
Philly Pretzel Factory
Philly Pretzel Factory offered $1 pretzel dogs on July 18. This deal was available at all participating locations. Additionally, the first 100 customers at any location received a punch card that allowed them to get $1 hot dogs every day in August. Specific locations mentioned in the source data include: * 18701 Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. * Locations in Delaware and Florida.
Dog Haus
Dog Haus, a frankfurter-focused chain, offered complimentary hot dogs all day on July 18. To redeem this offer, customers were required to download the restaurant's app and register.
Hwy 55
Hwy 55, a retro-style burger chain, highlighted hot dogs on July 18 between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The chain featured southern-style hot dogs during this time frame.
Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter, a supermarket chain, offered a deal on hot dog supplies. Customers could purchase a pack of franks for $1.99 and buns for $0.99. This offer was limited to two of each item per customer and was available while supplies lasted.
Brooks Burgers
Brooks Gourmet Burgers & Dogs, located in Naples and surrounding areas in Florida, offered 50 percent off hot dogs on the menu at each of its three locations. The chain also promoted a special for National Chili Dog Day on July 26, offering a buy-one-chili-dog-get-one-free deal. Locations included: * 330 Ninth St. S., Naples. * 845 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples. * 12655 U.S. 41 E., East Naples.
Big Dawgs
Big Dawgs in Naples, Florida, took $1.00 off hot dogs and sandwiches on July 18. They also offered a hot dog, fries, and drink combo for $7.77. A promotional activity allowed customers to roll dice for a chance to win a free hot dog if the dice landed on the number seven.
Hotdog Johnnies
Hotdog Johnnies in Delaware offered $2 off regular and footlong chili dogs on July 18. The chili was described as homemade and made with 100 percent beef. Locations included: * 1905 Coastal Highway in Dewey Beach. * 141 Savannah Road in Lewes.
Johnnie’s Dog House and Chicken Shack
Johnnie’s Dog House and Chicken Shack in Wilmington, Delaware, was listed as a location to find deals for National Hot Dog Day. Customers were advised to contact the store directly to inquire about specific deals.
Other Food-Related Promotions
While National Hot Dog Day was the primary focus, other food-related freebies and deals occurred around the same time period.
National French Fry Day
National French Fry Day was celebrated on Friday, July 13, 2018. Dunkin' Donuts offered free "Donut Fries" at five participating locations in Southern California on that day. The first 100 guests at each location between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. received a free order. The Donut Fries were described as croissant-style donut dough tossed in cinnamon sugar. Participating locations included: * 1132 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. * 6201 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. * 26441 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. * 15415 Jeffrey Road, Irvine. * 1428 S (address incomplete in source data).
Free Chili Day
Dolores Canning Co. and Philippe’s hosted a Free Chili Day to strengthen their partnership and give back to restaurant patrons. During the event, both companies handed out freebies to guests. Free chili and Philippe’s gift cards were also raffled. Philippe’s is a restaurant known as the inventor of the French Dip Sandwich, located in Los Angeles.
Hot Dog Statistics and Facts
Several interesting statistics regarding hot dog consumption in the United States were noted during the 2018 celebrations: * In 2016, nearly 1 billion pounds of hot dogs were sold at retail stores, equating to more than $2.4 billion in sales. * It was estimated that baseball fans would consume more than 19.4 million hot dogs and 4.3 million sausages during the 2016 Major League Baseball season. * Chicago O’Hare International Airport saw 725,000 hot dogs consumed annually.
Conclusion
National Hot Dog Day 2018 provided U.S. consumers with a variety of free and discounted food options. Promotions ranged from $1 hot dogs at 7-Eleven and pretzel dogs at Philly Pretzel Factory to complimentary items at Dog Haus for app registrants. Regional deals were prominent in Delaware and Florida, with specific chains like Brooks Burgers and Big Dawgs offering percentage discounts and combo deals. While the primary focus was on hot dogs, related food holidays such as National French Fry Day also featured giveaways, such as free Donut Fries at Dunkin' Donuts. Consumers were encouraged to verify deal details with specific locations, as terms and availability varied.