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MEMORIES:
tripdownmemorylane remembers...Urgh, these things are awful. You could feel the fat coating your mouth when you ate them. And they just ... More »
Posted on 04/16/08
PHOTOS:
When you need a little help to stem those hunger pains in between meals, nothing says snack like those loveable little cylinders of packaged meat known as Slim Jims. While maybe not as healthy as a handful of carrot sticks, these flavorful snacks have certainly made their mark in popular culture and delighted the taste buds of literally millions of consumers.
The creator of Slim Jims, a man by the name of Adolph Levis, offered his pickles, relishes, and vegetables to depression-era delicatessens in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Taking notice of the apparent popularity of pepperoni and bologna, he set out to create a small sausage that could be offered to local pub patrons. Originally sold in jars, the label featured a thin man wearing a tuxedo, top hat, and holding a cane. Levis named the man “Slim Jim” and the rest is history. These treats proved to be enormously popular for their unique flavor and how they snapped when bitten. Expanding his market, he began offering them in convenience stores and as a result, made a small fortune off of his little sausage cylinders. In 1967, he retired and sold the product to General Mills who proceeded to offer Slim Jims to rest of the world.
Marketed at one time with the slogan, "Less Than a Meal and More Than a Snack.", Slim Jims eventually became available in more than 20 varieties including: mild, spicy, pepperoni, and nacho cheese. Consumers gobble up the tasty treats to the tune of 500 million a year, with the largest demographic being teenage boys who, it’s been determined, occasionally consume 5-10 of these spicy morsels at a time.
When confronted with the decision between a bland carrot stick and a flavorful stick of meat that delights the taste buds, the choice is clear and the populace has spoken: America, it would appear, savors their Slim Jims.
