Save Boca Brats!
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
Boca Foods & Kraft Foods
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Sponsored By:
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More Info at:
Boca Bratwursts are a meatless vegetarian product (not vegan because of egg whites) that is probably most well known for its inclusion at the Madison Brat Fest in Wisconsin. (The World's Largest Brat Fest)
There are only a small number of meatless vegetarian brats available on the market and I for one think that Boca brats are the best tasting of those available. However, Boca and Kraft (now the parent company of Boca) have decided to discontinue several of their meatless vegetarian products including their BOCA NATURAL BRATWURST!
Certainly all over but in particular, in the Midwest and even more specifically in Wisconsin... many of us think this is great mistake. Hopefully we can get attention from all over, though!
According to a letter from the Director of Marketing at Boca Foods, the decision was apparently made in the Fall of 2008. Some stores continued to carry and receive stock for a short time still. Now, though, it has finally reached the point that it seems there are none to be found.
Madison Brat Fest (The World's Largest Brat Fest) has offered Boca brats as an alternative to their Johnsonville brats for years now. A Brat Fest event promoter assured me that they will indeed be available for this years event (2009) despite the discontinuation. But it does in fact look like this year will be the very last year that the Madison Brat Fest will have the Boca brat. So as of now, the 2009 Madison Brat Fest will be your last chance to ever have a Boca brat.
The Boca letter also reads in part, "We have been experiencing difficulty in servicing our business over the past two months due to dramatic inventory reductions. While we were optimistic that we could manage through these problems, it has become evident that more significant steps need to be taken."
I'm not exactly certain what that refers to but a Kraft representative also told me that sales were down for this product. Although, I could not locate any specific figures. You would think that in the Midwest and in particular, Wisconsin... that there would be more popularity among vegetarians for a meatless vegetarian brat product. Especially one that is better than the few others out there... that I have tried, at least.
According to Brat Fest's own website there were 7,500 Boca brats sold at the 2008 event! The Brat Fest event promoter I spoke with confirmed that number and told me that there were 6,880 sold in 2007. So Boca brat popularity seems to have grown at Brat Fest, at least from 2007 to 2008.
Boca brats are also better for you than others. "The Tofurky beer brat, according to its nutrition label, has 280 calories, 140 from fat. Johnsonville brats have 290 calories, 230 from fat. Boca brats have 140 calories, 60 from fat."
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Let's send a message to Kraft and Boca that we want our Boca brats back! Sign this online petition, join the Facebook group here http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=85260367137 and eat as many Boca brats at Brat Fest this year as you can! (without causing harm to yourself, hehe) And spread the word to others so that we can set a Boca brat record at Brat Fest this year! Attention and popularity could be all it takes to get the wonderful Boca brat back into production.
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Sources:
-Direct communication with Scott J. Smith, Brat Fest Event Promoter, Madison Festivals, Inc.
-Direct communication with Kim McMiller, Associate Director, Consumer Relations, Kraft Foods, Inc.
-Letter from Thomas D. Lopez, Director of Marketing, Boca Foods:
http://goodfoods.coop/news/archives/boca/document_view?month:int=9&year:int=2008
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=94127
-Nutritional Information:
http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2006/05/25/0605250484.php
More Information:
http://www.bratfest.com
http://www.bocaburger.com
http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com
There are only a small number of meatless vegetarian brats available on the market and I for one think that Boca brats are the best tasting of those available. However, Boca and Kraft (now the parent company of Boca) have decided to discontinue several of their meatless vegetarian products including their BOCA NATURAL BRATWURST!
Certainly all over but in particular, in the Midwest and even more specifically in Wisconsin... many of us think this is great mistake. Hopefully we can get attention from all over, though!
According to a letter from the Director of Marketing at Boca Foods, the decision was apparently made in the Fall of 2008. Some stores continued to carry and receive stock for a short time still. Now, though, it has finally reached the point that it seems there are none to be found.
Madison Brat Fest (The World's Largest Brat Fest) has offered Boca brats as an alternative to their Johnsonville brats for years now. A Brat Fest event promoter assured me that they will indeed be available for this years event (2009) despite the discontinuation. But it does in fact look like this year will be the very last year that the Madison Brat Fest will have the Boca brat. So as of now, the 2009 Madison Brat Fest will be your last chance to ever have a Boca brat.
The Boca letter also reads in part, "We have been experiencing difficulty in servicing our business over the past two months due to dramatic inventory reductions. While we were optimistic that we could manage through these problems, it has become evident that more significant steps need to be taken."
I'm not exactly certain what that refers to but a Kraft representative also told me that sales were down for this product. Although, I could not locate any specific figures. You would think that in the Midwest and in particular, Wisconsin... that there would be more popularity among vegetarians for a meatless vegetarian brat product. Especially one that is better than the few others out there... that I have tried, at least.
According to Brat Fest's own website there were 7,500 Boca brats sold at the 2008 event! The Brat Fest event promoter I spoke with confirmed that number and told me that there were 6,880 sold in 2007. So Boca brat popularity seems to have grown at Brat Fest, at least from 2007 to 2008.
Boca brats are also better for you than others. "The Tofurky beer brat, according to its nutrition label, has 280 calories, 140 from fat. Johnsonville brats have 290 calories, 230 from fat. Boca brats have 140 calories, 60 from fat."
*************************
Let's send a message to Kraft and Boca that we want our Boca brats back! Sign this online petition, join the Facebook group here http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=85260367137 and eat as many Boca brats at Brat Fest this year as you can! (without causing harm to yourself, hehe) And spread the word to others so that we can set a Boca brat record at Brat Fest this year! Attention and popularity could be all it takes to get the wonderful Boca brat back into production.
*************************
Sources:
-Direct communication with Scott J. Smith, Brat Fest Event Promoter, Madison Festivals, Inc.
-Direct communication with Kim McMiller, Associate Director, Consumer Relations, Kraft Foods, Inc.
-Letter from Thomas D. Lopez, Director of Marketing, Boca Foods:
http://goodfoods.coop/news/archives/boca/document_view?month:int=9&year:int=2008
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=94127
-Nutritional Information:
http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2006/05/25/0605250484.php
More Information:
http://www.bratfest.com
http://www.bocaburger.com
http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com
583 Signatures
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Mickey Lipska
- Comments
- Bring back the Boca brats!
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Leah Lipska
- Comments
- I love Boca brats!
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Kimberly Jacobson
- Comments
- I love these things! Don't make me hate grill outs again.
- State or Region
- WI
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Jamie Dittman
- Comments
- Great taste, less filling! I love these things! Please do not discontinue them!
- State or Region
- Milwaukee, WI
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Michael Wollin
- Comments
- These are the best meatless Brats available and if they disappear we will be left with out that year round necessity.
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Lee Becker
- Comments
- Ya hey, dere's lotsa vegetarians here in Wisconsin, doncha know?
- State or Region
- WI
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Charles Thomas
- Comments
- Only good veggie brat out there!
- State or Region
- WI
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Victoria Richardson
- State or Region
- WI
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Naomi Clark
- Comments
- Vegetarian Brat Lovers need their Boca Brats, and those of us who are not vegetarian but are health-conscious but from the Midwest and crave that yummy brat flavor!
- State or Region
- California
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Maggie Tate-Techtmann
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Melinda Kerl
- State or Region
- WI
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Leah Thomas
- Comments
- Please, please don't discontinue the Boca Brat!
- State or Region
- WI
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Robert Hayden
- Comments
- Save the Brats!
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James Morey
- State or Region
- WI
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Nathan Chappell
- Comments
- I LOVE BOCA BRATS!!!
- State or Region
- Oregon
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Vivian Olson
- Comments
- Please don't take my boca brats!!
- State or Region
- Oregon
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Laurie Kutil
- Comments
- These are my favorite brats. Please don't discontinue them, their taste and low calories can't be beat!
- State or Region
- Madison, WI
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Anthony James Lage Jr
- State or Region
- WI
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MaryBeth Heydt
- Comments
- I love Boca veggie products, esp. the brats!
- State or Region
- California
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Julia Meyers
- Comments
- Save the Boca Brats! They are great!
- State or Region
- Waterford, WI
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Kelly Fitzgerald
- Comments
- Please keep Boca Brats. There is no other option. Boca has many less popular products that could discontinue without concern yet the brats and Italian sausages are irreplaceable.
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Lesley Zaun
- Comments
- Save the Boca Italian Sausage too
- State or Region
- MN
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Dawn Holicky
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Scott J. Smith
- Comments
- 10,176 Boca Brats were sold at the 2009 Brat Fest. That's a lot and indicateds that many people really enjoy them.
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Heather Zaun
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Vickie Brown
- State or Region
- Wisconsin but relocating to Alabama
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Lauren Sipos
- State or Region
- Wi
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Lauri Steeber
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michael browne
- Comments
- В
- State or Region
- WI - Dane County
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victoria rouse
- Comments
- need to keep the healthy boca brat
- State or Region
- ca.
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Rebecca Brown
- Comments
- Hands down, boca brats were the best
- State or Region
- IN
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Merry Larsen
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Steve Larsen
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Susan Schmaling
- Comments
- Do NOT discontinue the Boca Brat!!!!
- State or Region
- WI
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Jared
- Comments
- Please keep Boca brats alive. It's the only thing I can eat at grill-outs and not feel totally ridiculous about. Hook a Boca-brotha up!
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Shira Levenson
- Comments
- Bring back Boca Brats!
- State or Region
- Minnesota
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Kathy Baun
- Comments
- save the boca brats !!!!
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suzanne moore
- Comments
- boca are the best tasting meatless brat i've tried. it's nice to be able to go the festivals,fairs,etc. and be able to eat something besides junk food.
- State or Region
- wisconsin
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Jill Brunk
- Comments
- We're trying to eat healthier! Don't take away the Boca Brat, PLEASE!
- State or Region
- WI
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Darlene Levenson
- Comments
- If nothing else, make them available spring & summer, when we grill them. Delicious that way! Miss them so much at parties!
- State or Region
- Minnesota
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Beth Herrington
- State or Region
- Wisconsin
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Sherryl Cobb
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Dan Cobb
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Jill Hult
- Comments
- Please bring them back
- State or Region
- Minnesota
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Bonnie Riek
- Comments
- WHY would Boca get rid of the brats? They are becoming more and more popular as far as I can tell--if anything, why have so many different flavored burgers? KEEP THE BRAT!!
- State or Region
- WI
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Dale Riek
- State or Region
- WI
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Nan
- Comments
- Keep the Boca brats!!!!
- State or Region
- WI
-
Pam Austin
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Brittany Howard
- State or Region
- wisconsin
-
Seth Howard
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583
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