Mapping the World of Barbecue

Barbecue might just be America’s national food. It enjoys broad popularity across the country, and yet its appeal is tied to regional taste and flavor preferences. “Regional U.S. barbecue is big! Consumers travel the United States literally and figuratively through the TV,” says Kim Holman, director of marketing for ingredient supplier Wixon, St. Francis, Wis. “Consumers understand that there are distinct differences between regional barbecue flavors. They like the diffe…