The Boston butt burger (BBB), one of eight new pork products USMEF developed recently from the U.S. Boston butt for Colombia, is generating a great deal of interest and chalking up successes. Chef Burger, a premium burger chain with operations in four Colombian cities, announced recently that it is adding the BBB to its menus in 2025. Chef Burger has 26 locations, two food trucks and six ghost kitchens in Medellin, Cali, Bogotá and Cartagena.
USMEF Colombia Representative María Ruíz reports that USMEF is working with Chef Burger to launch the BBB during a promotional event in April. Chef Burger expects to use 10 metric tons of U.S. Boston butt for the seven days of the event, says Ruiz.
USMEF developed the BBB and seven other new U.S. pork product ideas from the Boston butt and introduced them to the Colombian trade at October launch events in four cities. Since the launch, USMEF has been promoting the products directly to importers, distributors and end users in retail and foodservice.
“The BBB has generated tremendous interest. Pricesmart is already promoting the BBB in 10 of its retail outlets in Colombia and another national retailer has recently notified us that they are planning to sell the BBB and the CT butt steak in 50 outlets,” says Ruiz. The BBB has also been incorporated onto menus in individual restaurants in Barranquilla and Cartagena.
USMEF is also promoting the BBB directly to consumers through food trucks at events and tastings at retail outlets in major markets. Promotional efforts are also integrated through traditional and social media in Colombia. USMEF Chef Nicolás Díaz appeared live recently on Tomando el Algo, a popular program on TeleMedellin, which registers nearly 700,000 viewers per month. Chef Díaz prepared burgers with the show’s hosts.
Funding support for the launch and promotion of the BBB was provided by the National Pork Board and USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.
