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$22.99 (as of September 18, 2024 12:33 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)In “The Wasteful Reason Pizza Hut Used To Buy The Most Kale In The US,” Jenna Wos takes you on a fascinating journey through the unexpected history of kale at Pizza Hut. Back in the day, Pizza Hut was the largest consumer of kale in America, not for its nutritional value, but as a decorative item to garnish their salad bars. It wasn’t even meant for eating! This leafy green, which now boasts various health benefits and enjoys a place in everything from salads to smoothies, was primarily used to hide ice and keep ingredients cold. While Pizza Hut moved away from this practice in 2013, kale has since found its way from a mere garnish to the superstar of the health food world. So, next time you think about kale, remember, it wasn’t always the health icon it is today—sometimes, it was just there to look pretty. Have you ever wondered why Pizza Hut once bought the most kale in the U.S., despite not serving it to customers? It sounds bizarre, doesn’t it? Well, grab a slice of your favorite pizza, sit back, and let’s dive into the quirky and surprising tale of how kale became intertwined with Pizza Hut’s salad bars and what led to this leafy green giant’s transformation into a beloved superfood.
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The Introduction of Kale into Popular Culture
Kale hasn’t always been the popular superfood it is today. It took a clever marketing push and some serendipitous moments to catapult it into our everyday diets.
The Marketing Genius: Oberon Sinclair
Around 2011, publicist Oberon Sinclair created a faux campaign for a nonexistent “American Kale Association,” using guerrilla marketing to get kale on menus across New York City. This campaign laid the foundation for kale’s rise to fame.
Key Moments in Kale’s Rise
- 2012: “The Year of Kale” – Bon Appetit deemed 2012 the “Year of Kale,” giving it a trendy boost.
- 2014: Beyoncé’s Endorsement – When Beyoncé wore a sweatshirt featuring the leafy green’s name in a music video, kale’s popularity skyrocketed.
These instances, combined with kale’s nutritious profile, rich in antioxidants, helped solidify its status as the go-to green for health-conscious individuals.
Pizza Hut’s Unlikely Relationship with Kale
Before kale became the star of your salads and smoothies, it had a less glamorous role at Pizza Hut.
The Kale-Garnished Salad Bars
Until 2013, Pizza Hut used kale to make its salad buffets aesthetically pleasing. Surprisingly, this leafy green never made it onto the plates of customers.
| Year | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Pre-2013 | Decorative use in salad bars |
| 2012 | 14,000 pounds purchased for decorative purposes |
| Post-2013 | Shift to refrigerated salad bars |
Pizza Hut bought almost 14,000 pounds of kale in 2012, making it the largest consumer of kale in America despite never serving it to customers. The kale served a dual purpose: it made the salad bars look attractive and covered up ice surrounding the food dishes to keep them cold.
The Switch to Refrigerated Salad Bars
In 2013, Pizza Hut upgraded to refrigerated salad bars, making the use of kale for decoration obsolete. This change marked the end of kale’s unexpected role at the pizza giant.
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The Breakup: Pizza Hut and Kale Go Their Separate Ways
While Pizza Hut and kale once shared an unusual bond, their paths diverged after the switch to refrigeration.
The End of Salad Bars in the U.S.
Over time, the features of Pizza Hut’s offerings evolved. Due to factors like the pandemic and decreasing demand, salad bars have become a thing of the past in the U.S., although they can still be found in some international locations such as Canada, the U.K., and Australia.
Pizza Hut Focuses Solely on Pizza
With salads no longer listed on many of its menus, Pizza Hut has shifted its focus entirely to what it does best: pizza. Notably, the company broke the record for the world’s biggest pizza last year with a 68,000-slice pie, reiterating their commitment to their core product. Indeed, no one out-pizzas the Hut, even without kale.
Kale’s Glow-Up
As for kale, it has come a long way from being a mere decorative element at Pizza Hut to becoming a star ingredient in kitchens worldwide.
Nutritional Benefits of Kale
Kale’s rise in popularity is not just about clever marketing; it owes much to its impressive nutritional profile. Some of its benefits include:
- Rich in Antioxidants – Helps in fighting off free radicals.
- Anti-Cancer Compounds – Potentially beneficial in reducing cancer risk.
- Lowers Cholesterol – May help in managing cholesterol levels.
Here’s a quick look at the nutritional value of a 100-gram serving of raw kale:
| Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
|---|---|
| Calories | 35 |
| Protein | 2.92g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.42g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.1g |
| Vitamin A | 681mcg |
| Vitamin C | 93.4mg |
| Calcium | 254mg |
| Iron | 1.6mg |
Different Varieties and Uses of Kale
Kale comes in various forms, adding versatility to its culinary applications. Some popular types include:
- Curly Kale – Often used in salads and smoothies.
- Lacinato Kale (Dinosaur Kale) – Ideal for soups and stews.
- Red Russian Kale – Great for sautéing and stir-frying.
Whether chopped into salads, blended into smoothies, or baked into chips, kale’s diverse uses make it a kitchen staple.
Kale in Restaurants and Popular Culture
The rise of kale isn’t just confined to home kitchens. It has also made its way into various restaurants and even restaurant names, like “Kale My Name” in Chicago. Between 2012 and 2017, the demand for kale increased dramatically, with the amount on the American market jumping from 145 million pounds to 335 million pounds.
Conclusion
The story of kale’s ascent from ornamental garnish at Pizza Hut to dietary mainstay is as fascinating as it is unexpected. While Pizza Hut has moved away from its kale-decorated salad bars to focus on pizzas, kale has flourished to become a beloved superfood with numerous health benefits.
If you haven’t given kale a chance yet, it’s worth trying—it might just become your next favorite green. And if the taste doesn’t suit you, well, you can always use it as a decoration, following in the footsteps of Pizza Hut!
I hope this detailed journey through kale’s unique history with Pizza Hut has been as enlightening as it’s been entertaining. Remember, every piece of food has a story, and sometimes, they’re as deliciously unexpected as this one!
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