# Porky Salad Toppers Bacon Croutons are Surprisingly Made Without Meat By Michael Hines | Published 2011-12-02 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bacon-croutons References: [thatsnerdalicious](http://www.thatsnerdalicious.com/bacon/taste-the-awesomeness-of-bacon-flavored-croutons/) & [thinkgeek](http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/bacon/ebbd/?cpg=cj&ref=&CJURL=&CJID=2617611) Vegetarians looking to indulge themselves in the sweet, sweet taste of bacon are going to want to order a bag -- or ten -- of bacon croutons. ThinkGeek has somehow managed to create their very own brand of bacon croutons that are both delicious and made with no pork products whatsoever. The Internet has a well-publicized love affair with bacon, and ThinkGeek primarily markets its items to Internet nerds. Thus, it should come as a shock to no one that they have managed to create bacon croutons. While most bacon products are simply ridiculous and designed for laughs ([bacon candy canes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sour-punch-bacon-bites)), I could really see people going for these bacon croutons. Carnivores looking for a reasons to eat salad and [vegetarians looking to taste meat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-aperitif) are two of the primary groups that I think would be drawn to these bacon croutons. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.3/10 - Popularity: 1% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Bacon-flavored Vegetarian Products:** Creating meat-flavored vegetarian alternatives opens up a new market and caters to vegetarians who miss the taste of meat. - **Novelty Food Products:** Creating unique and unexpected food items, like bacon croutons, can attract attention and generate buzz among food enthusiasts. - **Catering to Niche Markets:** Identifying specific groups with unique dietary preferences, such as carnivores interested in eating salads, can lead to targeted product offerings with untapped potential. ### Where This Applies - **Food and Beverage:** The food and beverage industry can explore opportunities for creating innovative vegetarian alternatives and novel food products to cater to changing consumer preferences. - **E-commerce and Online Retail:** Online retail platforms, especially those targeting niche markets like internet nerds, can capitalize on the popularity of novelty food items and bacon-flavored vegetarian products. - **Health and Wellness:** The health and wellness industry can benefit by offering healthier versions of bacon-flavored products, providing options for indulgence without compromising dietary choices. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Collagen-Rich Croutons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cruton-alternative.md) - [Crunchy Pork Rind Croutons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/southern-recipe-small-batch-krutones.md) - [Meatless Bacon Cubes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meat-free-bacon.md) - [Ready-to-Eat Plant-Based Bacon](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crispy-bacon-style-strips.md) - [Carrot Bacon Strips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carrot-bacon.md) - [Pre-Cooked Vegan Bacon Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bacon-snack-factory.md) - [Delectable Plant-Based Bacons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-bacons.md) - [Plant-Based Bacon Lardons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bacon-lardons.md) - [Flavor-Packed Bacon Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pork-clouds.md)