Oscar Mayer, a unit of Northfield-based Kraft Foods Inc., began giving away free coupons online for its all-beef hot dogs at 8 A.M. Central Time Wednesday. Visit kraft.promotions.com/ombeeffranks/front.do
The promotion ends at 10:59 Central Time, while supplies last. It's limited to one coupon per household for one pack of Jumbo Beef Franks.
A rash of giveaways has broken out as consumers are struggling with the worst economic downturn in decades. One morning in February, Denny's gave away Grand Slam breakfasts, prompting long lines at many restaurants. More recently chicken chains KFC and El Pollo Loco both staged giveaways.
KFC, however, last week learned the risks of the freebie: It ran out of grilled chicken in some parts of the country, frying the nerves of some queued-up customers.
If Oscar Mayer runs out of hot dogs, at least consumers won't have waited in line because the promotion is Web-based. Oscar Mayer announced the giveaway through a full-page ad in Wednesday's USA Today with a reference to "these troubled economic times."
mhughlett@tribune.com
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