Research shows Steelers fans react to a loss by eating 28% more saturated fats; business analysts forecast a record year for profitsCHICAGO - The nation's processed-food producers were diverting trucks to Pittsburgh this week after the Steelers fell to 0-2 on Monday night.
Recent research from INSEAD business school in France shows that when a football team loses, consumption of saturated fats goes up an average of 16% among fans. But a loss in cities such as Pittsburgh and Green Bay leads to a stunning 28% increase in saturated fat intake. And for agribusiness, that means big money.
"All those Super Bowls were really putting a crimp in our profits," said ADM Foods vice president James Dammer. "This could be the year we've been waiting for. We're revising our forecasts for third- and fourth-quarter profits way up. I'm just glad all those drafts haven't been working out for them."
Local grocers are reacting as well, by adding extra meats into the meat case and keeping their ice cream orders high. "Normally at this time of the year, we'd be cutting back on ice cream since it's getting cooler," one store manager said. "But we actually ordering extra now. Well, except for Blitzburgh Crunch - we don't think that's going to be selling too well."
ADM Foods' Dammer sees one potential problem. "If they keep losing and the fans keep eating fatty foods, there could be a lot of heart attacks by week ten," he said. "I haven't checked the schedule, but if Cleveland's coming up soon, maybe the Steelers could get a win and fans could give their arteries a break."
